BW Education Professor's New Book Offers Writing Help for ASD

Dr. Elise Geither, adjunct professor in BW's School of Education, has co-authored a new book, Helping Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder Express Their Thoughts and Knowledge in Writing: Tips and Exercises for Developing Writing Skills.

The book, which just published in the U.S., after an August release in the U.K., serves as a "a practical guide to teaching and improving writing skills in older students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)" in order to "prepare for the increased expectations of higher education."

Geither, who specializes in working with ASD students making the transition from high school to university, has been busy making appearances with her co-author Lisa Meeks. "We believe this is an important resource for teachers, faculty, students, and staff," says Geither, who lectures at both BW and Case Western Reserve University and serves as Associate Director of Spoken English Programs at Case. Geither currently teaches "Exploring Education in a Diverse Society" for BW's School of Education.

Psychology and Public Health Majors Serve in Ghana

For many students, summer includes bonfires at the beach, road trips with friends, and naps by the pool. Two Baldwin Wallace students, Nuha Alshabani ’15 (pictured above) and Mary McHale ’16, spent part of their summer serving in the Cape Coast of Ghana on issues related to public health and education. Both have plans to return to the African nation.

As part of their ProWorld-Intrax internships, Nuha and Mary assisted Cape Coast teachers in classrooms for students with disabilities. The pair also interned in a department for social welfare focusing on health promotion for such issues as HIV/AIDS awareness, personal hygiene, and basic first aid.

While living in Ghana, Nuha and Mary faced the challenges that come with cultural immersion. Both students noted that their liberal arts education at BW helped prepare them. Nuha said, “I realized how important a liberal arts education is and how it can prepare you for practical issues. I felt like I had knowledge in many different areas that I could draw on to help me in my internship and interactions in the community.”

Mary found the experience to be a confidence booster. “I think I have become a friendlier person. In Africa, everyone says hello to each other, and since I have left, I’ve definitely picked that up and do it in the States.”

As a Public Health major, Mary’s experience also supported her career development. She aspires to attend graduate school for public health and an accelerated nursing program after earning her undergraduate degree, and would like to serve in the Peace Corps. After graduation, Nuha hopes to apply her degree in Psychology towards becoming a child and family counselor.

This December, Mary and Nuha will return to Ghana to continue their internships during winter break.

"Why Everything You Know About the Bible Is Wrong"

BW religion professor, Dr. Robert Fowler, has been tapped to be the keynote speaker for the Fall 2014 Symposium at the Center for the Study of Information and Religion (CSIR) at Kent State University. Fowler will provide his scholarly analysis of “The Gutenberg Parenthesis of the Bible, or Why Everything You Know About the Bible Is Wrong.”

Prior to the invention of the Gutenberg printing press, the Bible was not the printed book we know today. In his keynote address, Fowler will walk the audience through four eras of human communication--oral, handwritten, printed and electronic--to demonstrate how the Bible is once again changing as we enter what he calls "a transitional moment between two grand eras in media history-- the ages of print and electronic communication."

Fowler has taught in BW’s Religion Department for 34 years, serving as the chair for 21 of those years. His keynote will take place on Monday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. in Kent's Student Center. The event is free and open to the public.

Update 10/7: The well-received talk was featured on kentwired.com. 

BW Students Win "Bad Girl Ventures" Fellowships

Entrepreneurial-minded BW students and alumni have won fellowships to fund their participation in a series of courses presented by Bad Girl Ventures (BGV), a premier resource for women entrepreneurs in Ohio. This fall, Bad Girl Ventures has teamed up with BW's Center for Innovation & Growth and Blackstone LaunchPad to offer its distinctive training program at BW's Berea campus on Wednesday evenings, and to award fellowships for the first time.

Two student fellowship winners – Casey  Elmore, an MBA in entrepreneurship major (nominated by Mike Nock, BW’s Blackstone LaunchPad director) and Allison Longwell '18, a freshman psychology major (nominated by Dr. Ven Ochaya professor in BW’s School of Business) – attend each weekly class at no charge. Two additional fellowships are shared by BW students, alumni, faculty and staff who rotate in and out of the 10-week program attending such sessions as “Understanding Your Market,” “Pricing Your Product or Service,” and “Legal Structuring.” 

Bad Girl Ventures courses are open to the general public – women and men – at $35/class or $250 for a full pass. It's not too late to register online at their website. BGV is a non-profit educational and micro-finance organization offering education, access to capital and mentorship opportunities to enable women to build and sustain well-managed, profitable businesses.

BW student entrepreneurs meet with Bad Girl Ventures Cleveland selection committee members at BW’s Center for Innovation & Growth. - photo by Brittney Callahan '15

BW Professor Conquers Hiking Milestone

Dr. Terry Martin, professor in BW's English department, completed a longtime goal this summer as he hiked the final steps of the Appalachian Trail. Over a six year period, Martin hiked the trail in sections, ending his trek of the 2,160-mile footpath at the northern trailhead in Katahdin, Maine.

The trail, with its southern terminus in Springer Mountain, Georgia, passes through 14 states and accommodates up to 3 million visitors each year. The Maine portion of the trail--Martin's final section--is considered one of the most challenging.

The expedition was about much more than hiking for Martin. "Since I teach nature writing and we emphasize experiential learning for our undergraduates, one might say that this is evidence that BW faculty practice what we preach," he said.

Martin's goal is to turn his pictures and experiences from the trail into an on-campus presentation for student, faculty, and community members sometime later this year. "I hope to inspire some of our students, as well as perhaps members of the surrounding community, to get out on the trail."

Martin's stunning photo below might accomplish that goal all by itself!

Music Media Previews New Conductor's BW Debut

In advance of his his Baldwin Wallace debut, Maestro Octavio Más-Arocas is featured in interviews with two important Northeast Ohio classical music media outlets this week. The new director of orchestral studies had plenty of praise for his BW students and faculty colleagues.

On Monday, Más-Arocas appeared live on WCLV radio, with the "Queen of the Morn," Jacqueline Gerber, who asked the dynamic musician about his time assisting Kurt Masur with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, growing up in a musical town in Spain and his move to the vibrant arts scene of Greater Cleveland.

You can access a replay of the interview on the ideastream website.

And, in a beautiful introduction to readers of Cleveland Classical, founder and editor Daniel Hathaway previews the new maestro's debut with the BW Symphony Orchestra on Friday, September 26 at 7 p.m.

The orchestra's first concert of the academic year will feature works by composer-in-residence Clint Needham, sophomore composition/mathematics major Kevin Thompson ’17, David Little, and Modest Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition."  A “Meet the Conductor” reception follows the performance.

“Baldwin Wallace has a very good group of students, very talented and hard-workers," Más-Arocas told Hathaway. "This is an exciting period at the University with many changes. It’s the right moment to be here.”

Senior Promotes Affordable Housing in Competitive Internship

This summer, Doanise Thompson '15 got the chance to make positive change in her community when she secured a competitive Cleveland Foundation internship with the Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland.

Working alongside organization's marketing team, Doanise assisted in designing strategies for social media marketing, newspapers, blogs, and other marketing materials. She also coordinated promotion for a summer fundraiser with the Cleveland Indians.

As a sociology major, Doanise's favorite part of the experience was knowing her work was changing the lives of people all over the area.

"[Homeownership is] a dream that has become very hard to obtain for low-income families," she said. "These programs and services give families and individuals the opportunity to dream great dreams and, ultimately, live in those dreams permanently."

At BW, Doanise maintains leadership roles throughout campus as president of the Criminal Justice Club, director of programming for Black Student Alliance, a Buzz Ambassador for the Office of Admissions, and a Multicultural Jacket Link Mentor. She will also lead an alternative spring break trip to promote women's empowerment in Miami, Fla. through BW's Office of Community Outreach.

BW Alum Named to Top Post at Leading Healthcare Consultancy

Dr. James Merlino '91, will join Press Ganey Associates, an independent healthcare advisory services and consulting firm, as president and chief medical officer for the strategic consulting division. Merlino begins his new position the first of the year.

Merlino has more than 20 years experience in health care leadership, including his current position as chief experience officer and associate chief of staff at the Cleveland Clinic. As founder and current president of the Association for Patient Experience, Merlino is an acknowledged leader in the drive to improve patient-centered care.

Merlino earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from BW and went on to earn his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

National Fraternity Recognizes Outstanding BW Senior

National fraternity, Phi Kappa Tau, recognized Steve Vaccaro ’15 as a “leader of tomorrow” for his outstanding work in the Alpha Omega chapter of the fraternity here at BW.

Vaccaro, a senior arts management major, currently serves as chapter president. He is a past recruitment chairman for the chapter and program intern for Executive Offices. Vaccaro has also attended the Leaders Regional Conference, Leadership Academy, Presidents Academy, Conclave and National Convention, and helped Alpha Omega win the Roland Maxwell Trophy, an award presented to the outstanding chapter in the nation.

Vaccaro is also a dedicated volunteer and advocate for the SeriousFun Children’s Network, a global network of camps and programs that serves children with serious illness.

In addition to extensive service as a member of Phi Kappa Tau, Vaccaro is co-director of Dating Beyond Control, a program that creates awareness for dating violence at BW.

As for his plans after graduation, Vaccaro says, "I hope to work in a nonprofit setting where I am able to become passionate about whatever I do."

BW Alumni Pastoring Faith Journeys at area Churches

Two young alumni from Baldwin Wallace University are now full-time ministry leaders at area churches.
Quincy Wheeler '05, a Thompson Township native, graduated from BW with a BA in communications and went on to study at Ashland Theological Seminary, where he earned his Master's Degree.

A pastor's son, Wheeler now serves as assistant pastor at Mentor United Methodist Church where he leads the iConnect ministry of casual Sunday services. “My vision is to provide a service where anyone of any background feels comfortable and can connect for life with the word of God,” Wheeler told The News-Herald.

Phillip Kerlin '07, from Amherst, graduated from BW with a public relations major and a minor in religion. Upon graduation, Kerlin served as a director of the STORM youth center at Church on the Rise in Westlake where he also lead the production team.

Now, Kerlin is an assistant youth pastor at Journey Community Church in Fairview Park.

BW Senior Earns National Scholarship and Leadership Award

Recognition times two for Tianna Cobb ’15! The BW senior recently earned a UPS Foundation, Inc. Scholarship through the Foundation for Independent Higher Education (FIHE) and also received the Bobby Gunn Leadership Award from the National Athletic Training Association this summer.

The 2009 graduate of Jefferson County Christian School is double-majoring in pre-physical therapy and athletic training with a minor in biology.

Cobb is involved in many organizations on BW’s campus, including membership in the Pre-Physical Therapy and Exercise Science Student Organization and service on the student advisory board for BW's School of Health, Physical Education and Sports Sciences. She also serves as the secretary for the Collegiate Organization for Athletic Student Trainers (COAST) and is a Student Ambassador for the university.

After graduation, Cobb plans to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy with an ultimate career goal of becoming an athletic trainer for an NFL team.

Grad's Feature Film Hits the Silver Screen at PlayhouseSquare

Two recent Baldwin Wallace graduates will "walk the red carpet" for a film premiere this Thursday, September 18, at 8 p.m. at the Ohio Theatre at PlayhouseSquare. Director Cameron Dunbar ’14 (pictured above) will premiere his film, That’s Why You Don’t Want Me, a tale that brings to life the struggles his generation faces entering the workforce after college.

Written by Dunbar and co-produced by fellow BW graduate, Megan Anderson ’14, the film “follows the disillusioned aspiring writer, Michael, on the cusp of his college graduation. Between his family, job hunt, and newly found feelings for his best friend, Michael is having trouble figuring out where he belongs.”

Dunbar says he took inspiration from personal experience and the challenges his friends encountered after college. “I noticed many of us were dealing with unique challenges presented by competing in a world that lives online,” Dunbar said.

Admission to the 60-minute screening is free, and a director Q&A will follow. The film is unrated, but it contains explicit language. 

After graduating with a degree in film studies, Dunbar gained experience in the film industry in New York and now owns his own photography and video production business, R3dGlasses LTD. Anderson, a graduate of BW's Conservatory of Music and arts management program, now works in PlayhouseSquare as theatre operations coordinator.

BW English Professor's Play Has Big Apple Opening

Baldwin Wallace English professor Dr. Les Hunter is making his mark on the theater world with the opening of his play, "I Like To Be Here: Jackson Heights Revisited, or This Is a Mango," in The Big Apple.

The play, the final installment in a trilogy focused on a multicultural neighborhood in Queens, New York, runs through September 27 at the New Ohio Theatre in New York City. “I Like To Be Here” also marks Hunter’s third writing collaboration as a part of the writing team Theater 167.











As one of seven writers of the play and one of 18 for the trilogy, Hunter sees the collaborative process as an opportunity to grow as a writer and teacher.

"It's not always easy, and the results are sometimes surprising." he says. "It's been good for me for teaching though, because sometimes when collaborating, like teaching, you have to let up on the reins and let the group go where it needs to go."

At BW, Hunter currently teaches a course in playwriting in addition to several others in the English department, and in the spring, he will also be teaching a screenwriting course.

Two of Hunter's other plays, "First Base Coach" (written with Elana Averback) and "Playdate," will also be read at the Dobama Theater in Cleveland September 22, with free admission.

BW Alumna to Showcase Paper Art at Berea Arts Fest

Photo courtesy of Margaret Bakke

BW alumna Margaret Bakke '11 will showcase a distinctive line of handmade, paper art pieces at the upcoming Berea Arts Festival. From journals and cards to tiny paper books dangling from earrings, Bakke pulls the old medium out of retirement and turns paper into fashionable pieces of artwork.

"I just feel that paper can't be replaced," Bakke told Cleveland.com in a preview story for the September 14 Arts Fest event. "Everything's all about the Kindles and iPads now, but there's really something about paper, the feel of it..."

Bakke earned her bachelor's degree in art education from BW, and is currently employed at the Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory and Educational Foundation.

She also runs an Etsy online storefront. For more information on Bakke and her work with paper, check out her blog.

BW Talent Behind "Revolutionary" Staging of "Les Miz"

Photo by DKM Photography

With mega-talent from BW involved, it's no surprise that the upcoming Great Lakes Theater production of LES MISERABLES is garnering advance buzz. In an article for The Plain Dealer's Fall Arts Guide - Theater Preview, BW Music Theatre director Victoria Bussert, who is directing "Les Miz," and BW theatre professor Jeffrey Herrmann, the show's scenic designer, explain how they solved the challenges of scaling the epic production for the Idaho Shakespeare Festival this summer and the move to PlayhouseSquare's Hanna Theatre this fall.

Bussert tells the paper that "the difference between seeing it in a 2,000-seat venue vs. a 600-seat venue is that you're going to intimately know these characters." PD theater critic Andrea Simakis writes that patrons who caught this fresh take on "Les Miz" in Idaho this summer "marveled that it was as if they were seeing the show for the first time."

"Les Misérables" opens at the Hanna Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 4. Get your tickets now because Simakis reports that advance single-ticket sales for the show have already shattered the previous record set by Bussert's version of "Sweeney Todd" staged last fall.

By the way, the BW connections don't end with Bussert and Herrmann. BW dance professor Gregory Daniels is choreographer for the production and the cast includes BW alumni Laura Welsh Berg '05, Jodi Dominick '01, Clare Eisentrout '13, and Alex Syiek '13, and current BW music theatre majors Kyle Jean Baptiste '15, Brandyn Day '15, Keri René Fuller '15,  Mickey Ryan '15 and Sam Wolfe '15.

Successful BW Finance and Economics Grad Publishes Book

BW alumnus, Sherif Ayoub ’96, has recently published a new book, Derivatives in Islamic Finance: Examining the Market Risk Management Framework. The book "offers a fresh perspective on the challenges facing the Islamic finance industry." The book is just the latest addition to an impressive list of accomplishments for the BW economics and finance graduate.


After earning his undergraduate degree, the Lakewood High School and BW graduate worked in the Peace Corps, studied at Columbia University, where he earned a Masters Degree and, then went on to the University of Edinburgh, where he earned his Ph.D.

Ayoub is a member of the Board of Directors for the Bahrain  Islamic Bank and preparing to take a new position as Assistant Secretary-General, Finance and Administration, with the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) in Malaysia. He is currently Advisor to the Vice President of the Islamic Development Bank, Finance. He also has served as a Visiting Fellow at Harvard University and a Visiting Scholar at the International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF).

Being On Top of Their Game Leads to Grad School Success

BW's Women’s Lacrosse alumni Ellen Fedick '14 and Becky Russell '14 have scored goals both on and off the field, landing in top graduate school programs.

Ellen Fedick '14

Fedick and Russell both received accolades for academic success as part of a BW lacrosse team recognition by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA).

Becky Russell '14

Fedick, of Rochester, N.Y., earned a 3.98 GPA. It was the highest among all BW student-athletes during the 2013-14 school year. She was also named a Jacket Scholar. A pre-physical therapy major, Fedick is enrolled in physician's assistant program at Trevecca Nazarene University (Nashville, Tenn.).

Russell, a native of Glenshaw, Pa., also majored in pre-physical therapy at BW and was a Jacket Scholar. She earned an outstanding 3.94 GPA. She is enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh in its top-ranked physical therapy graduate program.

CIG Growth Interns Consult Area Businesses on Innovation

As more businesses turn to innovation to succeed in the marketplace, eight Baldwin Wallace students consulted on real world projects for two Northeast Ohio companies over the summer.

Part of the Center for Innovation & Growth’s Student Fellows program, these students were chosen for as CIG Growth Interns due to their "above and beyond" work as Student Fellows: Daniela Muhaj ‘14, Vince Milner ‘15, John Kuder ‘16, David Shapiro ‘16, Ashley Smith ‘16, Katie Primeau ‘15, Contessa Elliott ‘16, and Judy Mehalic ’16.

The CIG Growth Interns also participated in a summer Entrepreneur Tour, meeting with a variety of successful Northeast Ohio entrepreneurs to discuss the successes and challenges innovators face when starting a business. One visit connected the students with Blake Squires, CEO at MOVABLE (see photo).

Along with adding contacts to their professional networks, the students collaborated with Northeast Ohio professionals to carry out mentored projects for area businesses to “achieve growth through innovation.”

CIG Summer Growth Interns at MOVABLE with CEO Blake Squires
(pictured back row, far right).

Neuroscience Major Secures Major Grant for Thesis Project

Rachel Zacharias '15 won a prestigious $5,000 grant from the International Honor Society in Psychology, Psi Chi, to fund the research for her thesis project. This is just one of many successes for the impressive neuroscience and psychology major.

Zacharias just wrapped up a summer internship at West Virginia University where she won recognition and a cash prize for her poster presentation. She spent the summer at WVU as part of a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program.

"I learned lab techniques, such as running western blots and radial arm water maze testing, that will be helpful as I continue my career in neuroscience,” she said of the experience. "One of the highlights was attending the WVU Neuroscience Retreat at Oglebay, where I won an award for my poster presentation of my research project.” She was one of just four undergrads to receive recognition.

With a successful summer behind her, Zacharias now turns to her thesis research, which focuses on possible treatments for the negative impacts of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) on daily life. She hopes to "discover more about the effectiveness of (the drugs) acetazolamide and corticosterone as either prophylactics or treatments for PTSD."

BW Senior Takes Summer Studies to Peru

Amanda Van Gilder ’15 broke international boundaries this summer as she assisted as a researcher with Aporvidha, a human rights firm located in Cusco, Peru.

An international studies and spanish double major from Akron, Amanda conducted interviews and reviewed academic resources to explore issues relating to human and indigenous rights in the Peruvian city.

“Knowing I would have access to large amounts of research, I figured I could take and elaborate on what I learned from [Dr. Judy Krutky’s Capstone seminar] and look at national security from a social and human rights perspective,” she explains. Hands-on experience was crucial in making her time this summer special, she says, as she was able to interact face to face with members of marginalized and indigenous communities.

Back at BW, she intends to carry her passion for Peru’s social issues into her studies by turning her findings into an Honors Program thesis. Amanda is also involved as a BW CIG fellow and has assisted refugees through an internship with the International Institute of Akron. After graduation, Amanda plans to continue her education pursuing a Master’s degree in International Development.

BW Grad to Cover The King, Kyrie, Kevin and Cavs

One BW grad will have a front row seat as LeBron James, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving and the rest of the Cleveland Cavaliers team try to bring Cleveland its first sports championship in a half century.

Northeast Ohio Media Group has named Chris Fedor '06 to the new NBA reporting team that will develop stories on the "hunt for a championship" for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.

Fedor has been a sports broadcaster in Northeast Ohio for nearly seven years. While at ESPN 850 WKNR, he most recently co-hosted The Hooligans and previously was a regular on The Really Big Show.

A West Park native, Fedor has covered the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Gladiators, multiple Final Fours, the NBA Finals and the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

BW Plugs into the Political Season

Baldwin Wallace University political science professor Barbara Palmer is quoted for a widely published story on Ohio's gubernatorial race. In an Associated Press story picked up by the Cincinnati Enquirer, Toldeo Blade, Dayton Daily News, Washington Times and others,  Palmer said it's "a stretch" to argue that incumbent Republican Governor John Kasich and his supporters have, as another expert put it,"shut out other conservative voices and attacked FitzGerald full-force because they wanted to win by a landslide in order to pave the way to a White House bid."

“I don’t see Kasich as the scorched earth candidate. He tried the scorched-earth approach with the unions and it backfired, and he’s smart enough to learn from that,” she said. “He seems to be running what I’d call a textbook campaign.”

Meanwhile, BW has been confirmed as the site of one of only two Cuyahoga County Executive candidate forums to be staged this fall. BW's political science department will co-host the event with The League of Women Voters on Wednesday, October 15 at 7 p.m. in Gamble Auditorium.