Alumna Named Dean of Undergraduate Admissions NSU

Deanne "Dee" Voss 

Alumna Deanne "Dee" Voss '90 has been named dean of undergraduate admissions at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Voss is heading to NSU after spending more than 20 years as an enrollment professional at the University of Miami. Brad A. Williams, NSU's vice president for student affairs and dean of the College of Undergraduate Studies stated in a News Release that, "Miss. Voss brings a wealth of knowledge about admission and enrollment management and relationships with high school counselors throughout Florida, nationally and internationally."

She holds a bachelor's degree in international studies from BW and a master's degree in higher education leadership from the University of Miami. Voss is active in the National Association for College Admissions Counseling and the Southern Association of College Admissions Counselors.

BW Profs Present Innovative Teaching Techniques in Higher Ed

Baldwin Wallace Faculty Members Andy Dohanos, Susan Finelli, Paul Penko and Jack Winget were front and center, promoting inspired teaching at the 2015 Teaching & Learning in Higher Education Conference, a two day conference focused on forward-thinking research, practices and perspectives in higher education. The four BW professors presented work in their given fields to benefit other college educators attending the conference at Franklin University in Columbus.

Dohanos, a BW grad who now teaches in the department of communication arts and sciences, and Winget, a longtime theatre professor, joined together for a session titled "From Improv to Praxis: Cross-Disciplinary Teaching and Learning." The pair drew on their experience co-teaching an innovative class at BW that teaches conflict resolution through both theatre and communication techniques.

Meanwhile, Finelli, who teaches both undergraduate and graduate technology courses in the School of Education, promoted tech integration in the classroom in her presentation, "The Tech Toolbox: Building for Student Success!" Physics department colleague, Penko, discussed "the need for students to exercise the entirety of an engineering project" using rocketry as the model elective in her presentation "An Elective in Rocketry."

Summer Camps Reach Out to the Next Generation

The BW Conservatory of Music has many a summer camp
for pre-college students to take advantage of!

There is more to Baldwin Wallace University than the education of current college students. Each summer, BW hosts camps and programs dedicated to academics, athletics, cheerleading, music, and more;  offering a younger generation of students to benefit from the expertise and mentoring of BW's faculty, coaches, staff and students.

A new Health Care Career Exploration Week is already wait-listing, but other camps continue to register students. The Experience Honors Summer Program is dedicated to smoothing the secondary school to post-secondary school transition process. The Gedanken Problem-Solving Institute, headed by BW Physics professor Dr. Edwin Meyer, seeks to teach students about the importance of problem solving, as well as assist them in developing their own generalized approach to problem solving.

The Gedanken-Problem Solving Institute leads
 students to successful problem solving.

The Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music also has its share of camps, bringing in school age and adult learners to aid them in music studies, workshops, camps, and institutes. String, Piano, Band, and Music Theater camp are all options for younger students. Available to high school students is the International Guitar Festival, CSI: Conservatory Summer Intensive, and Music Theater Overtures (this writer's personal favorite!).

All of these opportunities, however, barely scratch the surface of what the summer BW has to offer. For an extensive list of the camps, click here. And check back, as new enrichment opportunities continue to be added.

Students and Faculty Elevate Science/Math Days at Cedar Point

The BW Cedar Point team, left to right, back row: David Revta and Dr. Ed Meyer, midde: Dr. Lisa Ponton and Alan Duncan, front: Brandon Dropic and Dr. Jim Emigh (not pictured: Dr. Peter Hoekje)

A group of Baldwin Wallace University students and faculty has transformed the learning materials used in one of the most anticipated spring field trips for Ohio middle and high school students: Physics, Science and Math Days at Cedar Point.

The week-long event (May 11-15 for 2015) turns “The Roller Coaster Capital of the World!®" into "the world’s biggest classroom" with special presentations, demonstrations and hands-on exhibits aimed at helping students to see how math and science apply to a wild ride on the Slingshot or the Wicked Twister, or the creation of cotton candy.

BW electronics technician David Revta spearheaded the BW effort to develop new middle and high school workbooks that include concepts, illustrations, and problems to solve—all based on the Cedar Point experience. “Our ultimate goal as education partner,” Revta says, “was to strengthen the ties to state science standards, and offer a progressive, tiered curriculum that will allow teachers to customize learning for their students.”

Brandon Dropic '15, a neuroscience/chemistry major from Seminole, Fla. got involved in this the project for the “unique experience of connecting other students to chemistry in a fun, non-traditional way.” He goes on to explain that “since chemistry questions had not previously existed, we were creating something brand new and exciting.”

While Cedar Point’s ties to the laws of physics are obvious, chemistry professor Dr. Lisa Ponton says finding chemistry connections sounded like a challenge. But, the inspiration came easily when the group visited the park to brainstorm. “We zeroed in on the steam combustion railroad, the kettle corn and cotton candy right away,” Ponton explains. “So we included problems like density comparison, moisture calculation, and the pressure involved in the corn exploding.”

In addition to Dropic, Ponton and Revta, the BW team included chemistry major Alan Duncan '15 from Valley City, Ohio, plus faculty members, James Emigh (education), Dr. Peter Hoekje (physics) and Dr. Edwin Meyer (physics).

BW also plans to send students and faculty to the park during science week to host a booth and answer questions, further helping Cedar Point to offer a one-of-a-kind learning experience, wrapped in pure fun.

Photo courtesy Cedar Point

BW Alum Leads Esperanza to Success

The incredible success of a nonprofit effort to increase low Hispanic graduation rates in Cleveland has put BW alumnus Victor Ruiz '99, executive director of Esperanza,  in the media spotlight. As explained in Crain's Cleveland Business, and La Prensa, Esperanza is a nonprofit organization that focuses primarily on guiding Hispanic students toward graduation. Ruiz has played a key role in the program's success in addressing what the Cleveland Metropolitan School District declared "a crisis" in 2011. In just two years of ambitious programming, the Hispanic graduation rates in Cleveland doubled.

Esperanza provides test prep, one-on-one mentoring, tutoring and student scholarships to Hispanic high school students. Over the past six years, Esperanza's budget has greatly expanded and by next year, it is expected to reach $2 million. Down the road, Ruiz hopes that the program will expand and begin to work in elementary and middle schools in addition to high schools.

In an earlier interview with Crain's, Ruiz discussed how as a young Hispanic child in Cleveland, he was helped by nonprofit and public social service organizations. This made attending college at BW a possibility for Ruiz, who was awarded BW's Alumni Merit Award in 2014. Ruiz says it's his duty to give back to his community.

BW Grad Student and Teacher Wins $1,000 Scholarship

Courtesy of PRWeb

Baldwin Wallace University graduate student and Cleveland school teacher Heather Marzenki has been named "the clear winner" of The Reeves Law Group annual academic scholarship contest and was awarded $1,000 in scholarship money.

Applicants were challenged to answer questions about what they have done to help lift people up in their communities. Marzenki, who is pursuing a Master's Degree in Education and is teaching at the St. Rocco School in Cleveland, described the challenges and successes of teaching students living at or near the poverty line.

"Heather's application was sincere, heartfelt, and very deserving," said Robert Reeves, founder of the  the southern California-based law firm. "Not only does she run multiple fundraisers throughout the year...but she collects used clothing and shoes outside of school to assist these same families."

BW Wrestler's Inspiring Story Featured in NCAA Video

The inspiring story of BW junior education major and wrestler Jesse Gunter is the focus of a recent NCAA video which showcases the student-athlete's quest to fight his way to the top despite being legally blind.

The video shows how Gunter, a motivated and dedicated wrestler, who was born blind in one eye and ninety percent blind in the other eye, has wrestled his way to high heights, placing third in the 2014 NCAA Division III National Championships, earning Division III All-American honors and an impressive sophomore wrestling record of 34-5.

It also features Gunter's parents and his coaches who have been inspired by the Yellow Jacket's ambition to be the best.

Gunter is presently competing in his third season of wrestling at BW, on track to earn his third varsity letter and more as one of the top ranked Division III wrestlers in the country. 

Education Alumna Ready to Give Cleveland Kids a Head Start

BW School of Education alumna, Dr. Thea Wilson, was recently named Director of Head Start for the Council for Economic Opportunities in Greater Cleveland (CEOGC).

Wilson previously served as the Executive Director of Early Childhood Education for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and as chair of Early Childhood at The Music Settlement. After graduating from BW, Wilson went on to earn her master's and doctorate degrees.

In an interview with Call & Post newspaper, Wilson said she seeks to engage children through education and believes it is the responsibility of early childhood educators to nurture their students, so they can develop better skills to use in the classroom.

"We can give them everything material we possibly can give them but that's not what children truly, truly want. They want you to be engaged with them," she said.

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.

Art Education Major Interns with Smithsonian's "Portraits Alive"

Aspiring art teacher Gloria Collins '15 is spending a "seriously amazing" summer in Washington D.C. interning at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery, Office of Education. Collins, who is studying art education at BW is involved in a program called "Portraits Alive." She works with high school students, ages 14 to 16, who write a monologue and dress up as a historical figure from a portrait within the museum, from Audrey Hepburn to Bruce Lee.

Collins says that the most rewarding part of the internship is seeing shy teens “blossom and embody a character and I think they learn a lot about themselves but also about historical figures.” Collins also is gaining valuable experience learning how to incorporate museum education into the classroom.

To hear more about her experiences, check out this Smithsonian video interview featuring Collins and a fellow intern from Vanderbilt University. 

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum and research complex with 137 million objects in its collections. It was founded in 1864 and consists of 19 museums, the National Zoological Park and nine research facilities. The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery shares America’s history through poets, presidents, actors, activists and many more that have shaped our culture and story.

Taking Music to New Heights

No doubt, Annemarie Kulbis’ students will look up to her one day. 

Not only because she is six feet tall, but also because she will be providing them with a valuable education resource that will help them succeed.

As a 2014 Baldwin Wallace Summer Scholar, Kulbis ’16, of Euclid, is in the process of creating a resource guide that K-4 music teachers can use for working with children with autism.

A music education and music therapy major, she has found that “music educators don’t have many classes that deal with this disability.” Her goal is to “bridge the gap by creating a music curriculum they can use. Her project lends itself to her career plans. “One day I plan on opening my own academy that emphasizes the use of music on the mind and body."

Annemarie Kulbis works with Professor Lalene Kay as part of her Summer Scholars research project. Kulbis credits BW with providing her hands-on experiences that make her more marketable than students from other schools.

Education Degree Sends Alum on Alaskan Adventure

While many BW students are thinking of warmer weather this time of year, Mary Enos '13, took her BW Education degree north to Nightmute, Alaska. Nightmute is a small Yup'ik village of less than 300 people on the west coast of Alaska.

Enos teaches Kindergarten and 1st Grade in the small school, where students speak both English and Yugtun.

She keeps an updated blog, Mary's Alaskan Adventure, where you can read more about her experience.

BW Alum Wins on Jeopardy

Matt Kish, a Baldwin Wallace University grad and social studies teacher at North Royalton High School is the latest Northeast Ohioan to succeed at Jeopardy. As the winner of last night's (March 13, 2014) edition of the trivia game show, Kish will appear again tonight (3/14) on WOIO-TV 19 at 7:30 p.m.

The Plain Dealer story on Kish's $23,000+ win quotes the principal at his high school as saying, "He's just got a knowledge base that's unheard of. He can talk about anything."

Kish picked up at least some of that knowledge earning a BA in secondary education and history in 2003, and later an MA in educational leadership, right here at BW, where he also happened to be an Academic All American Yellow Jacket football player!

Update: Before he lost in a close second appearance on Jeopardy (and added another $2,000 in winnings), the PD posted this follow-up interview with Kish on his prep and strategy for the game.

BW Student Named OAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month

Due to her excellence in managing both academics and sports, Audrey Smolik, a junior Early Childhood Education major, was recently named as the Ohio Athletic Conference's Scholar-Athlete of the Month for January.

With a 3.833 GPA, Smolik is an accomplished basketball player. She has been titled OAC Women's Basketball Player of the Week two times. According to an article published by the OAC, Smolik is also involved with Honor societies and Teaching Together, just to name a few. 

Best of luck to the Women's Basketball team for the rest of the season.

'06 Grad Wins Teacher Of The Year...Twice!

Sarah Belkofer '06 has been teaching for only six years, yet she has already won the Huntington Teacher of the Year award - twice! For five years she has taught at Huntington Elementary School in Brunswick, Ohio, and says she loves every day. For the second year in a row, Belkofer has been recognized for her outstanding work with students.

While working toward her bachelor's degree at BW, Belkofer took a special education class that required her to assist in a special needs classroom. She told a reporter for a cleveland.com article, "After that class, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I love interacting with kids and I love helping children grow. It is a very rewarding career."

Where The Jobs Are: BW Education Insight

Courtney DeSchepper '14 with fellow classmate (Courtesy of WEWS)

Courtney DeSchepper '14 has wanted to be a special education teacher since she was in the second grade.

"I was in a classroom with my mother, who is a one-on-one aide in our special education classroom back home," DeSchepper  told WEWS TV in a report on the future of teaching jobs, "and she was having me work with a student on a puzzle. It took her a whole month to put a fifty-piece puzzle together, but that day when she got her very last piece in, she was so excited, and it was right then I knew that this was what I wanted to do."

Along with DeSchepper, Dr. Karen Kaye, chair of the Education Department, explained that the market for teaching jobs can be bright for students who are studying fields such as special education, math and science.

Deschepper remains hopeful for employment for all aspiring teachers. "The best teachers," she says, "will always have a job."

Baldwin Wallace Appoints New Assistant Provost

 

BW has named Dr. Lisa Henderson as Assistant Provost. In her new role, Henderson will coordinate and oversee the offices of Career Services, Explorations, the Honors Program, and the Learning Center, along with other responsibilities.

Henderson joined BW’s Division of Education as an Assistant Professor in 1992, eventually working her way up to a tenured, full professor. She has held the administrative station of Director of Undergraduate Programs in the Division of Education since 2004.

In addition, during the 2012-2013 Academic Year, Dr. Henderson earned the American Council on Education (ACE) Fellowship, which provided a year of focused leadership training and administrative experience.

The BW community welcomes her to this new role and wishes her continued success in her career!