Retired Faculty Member Publishes Inspiring Memoir

Touted by readers as "the story of a life well lived in the face of physical constraints, illness and adversity heaped atop challenges that were already present," From Where I Sit, a recently published memoir, tells the beautiful story of Victoria "Vickie" Covington, a retired BW faculty member.

Covington taught and played piano in BW's Conservatory of Music for 23 years where she also served as the chair of the piano department. She spent much of her life wheelchair-bound due to rheumatoid arthritis but that did not stop her from playing and teaching music to her students for years.

"This is a story of creativity, beginning with Vickie's early years, as she developed her own unique, highly unorthodox piano technique--even pedaling with her left foot!" according to a description on Amazon.

Covington was recently interviewed for a story, "Pianist tells her story with a tune of gratitude" on WYFF-TV in Greenville, S.C. where she now lives. She told the station that even though nature took away her ability to do what she loved, the music still lives within her.

Covington says proceeds from the sales of From Where I Sit will be donated to the three schools in Covington's life, including BW.

Residence Life Director Recognized at National Conference

Earning the respect of your peers on a national level can say a lot about your work, and BW's director of residence life, Robin Gagnow, recently received the highest recognition bestowed by the professional association that supports collegiate housing professionals. The Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I) Foundation honored Gagnow with a 2015 Parthenon Award, the foundation's most prestigious award.

The Parthenon Award recognizes outstanding service, leadership, achievement, and contributions to the collegiate housing field. Gagnow was honored "for his commitment to education during a 30-plus-year career, including numerous leadership roles with ACUHO-I and the Great Lakes Association of College and University Housing Officers."

“Robin is a leader who doesn’t just talk the talk,” said Dr. Joe Berthiaume, director of university housing at Texas Woman’s University. “He provides hands-on engagement and is a shining example of a professional who is dedicated to helping others succeed.” 

Parthenon Award winners were announced at the 2015 ACUHO-I Annual Conference & Exposition.

StudentAdvisor Features BW Advice on Study Abroad Apps

When StudentAdvisor wanted to know how students studying around the world could make use of a smart phone even without a cellular signal, Baldwin Wallace University study broad specialist Kristen Catrina stepped in as an expert resource. In a guest column, titled 10 Useful OFFLINE Apps for Study Abroad Students, Catrina compiles a list of 10 very useful apps that will work without an expensive global cell phone plan.

Catrina's list includes the free, electronic guidebook, Triposo, plus language and food allergy translators, currency converters and more. Check out the complete list at studentadvisor.com and, as always, check out BW Study Abroad/Explorations on the web for even more resources!

Men's Chorus Performs National Anthem for Indians

The BW Men's Chorus knocked it out of the park at Progressive Field on Saturday May 9. Under the direction of Frank Bianchi, the Men's Chorus performed the Star-Spangled Banner to kick off the Cleveland Indians game against the Minnesota Twins.

The performance serves as a fundraiser for the Men's Chorus. By selling tickets to friends, family and colleagues prior to the game, the fundraiser generated about $3,000 for the group. This was the fifth year that the Men's Chorus sang at the Indians game and they are planning to sing again next year.

BW Men's Chorus is made up of men who are college-age and up and includes BW students, faculty, staff and alumni, as well as residents from the Greater Cleveland area. The group has performed in front of a wide variety of audiences throughout Northeast Ohio and has collaborated with many different outstanding music organizations. Visit the  Men's Chorus Facebook page to see a video of their performance of the National Anthem, and follow them for information on upcoming events and other news.

Another Successful Year of Building Walls

Building the framework of an entire home in one day may seem impossible; but for the third year in a row, BW's Habitat for Humanity did just that.

On a chilly Saturday in early spring, the Bonds Parking Lot was transformed into a construction site. In partnership with Crossroads Mission, more than 80 BW students, faculty, staff and alumni braved the cold weather and spent the day building the interior and exterior walls of a home. The home will be donated to a Lorain County family whose previous living conditions were declared unsafe.

The goal of the BW chapter of Habitat for Humanity is to put an end to poverty housing through community education and involvement. Projects such as Building Walls seek to do just that.

Dr. Andy Dohonas, one of Habitat for Humanity's faculty advisors, looks forward to the Building Walls project every year. "I love seeing the tangible results of our community coming together to help others. In a matter of hours we have taken a pile of lumber and turned it into a home. It's very satisfying."

Ohio Magazine Showcases BW STEM Scholar Success

The BW STEM Scholars program and physics and philosophy double major Sam Schwab '15 are featured in the current issue of Ohio Magazine. The "Career Choices" article notes the rise in U.S. jobs related to STEM, short for science, technology, engineering and math, and details how four Ohio colleges, including BW, are working to support student success in challenging STEM-related majors.

Schwab, who lives in BW's STEM Living Learning Community, had praise for opportunities that occur outside the classroom. “I was lucky enough to connect with some students and created a hands-on calculus course with a professor [ Dr. Edwin Meyer] last semester.”

The development of personal and professional career skills is another hallmark of the BW program. “We like the students to see the STEM fields as a business or entrepreneur opportunity,” Dr. Jacqueline Morris, director of neuroscience explained in the piece. “We want them to make the connection ... to make their education into a career.”

BW's director of STEM student initiatives, Stephanie Forstner, told the magazine that the BW approach, "offers holistic support — financially, academically and socially. Each student gets a success coach...throughout their college experience, and there is a real sense of community within the STEM program.” 

Statistics show that extra support pays off. BW STEM majors who are a part of the scholars program are nearly twice as likely to graduate with a STEM degree in four years, versus STEM majors who do not participate.

BW Technology Chief Named 'CIO of the Year' Finalist

BW's chief information officer (CIO), Greg Flanik, has been named a finalist in Crain's Cleveland 2015 CIO of the Year recognition. Flanik and the other CIO finalists will be recognized at an awards reception on Tuesday, April 14 at LaCentre in Westlake.

In developing the awards in 2005, Crain's said, "Northeast Ohio is home to world class IT organizations, both for-profit and not-for-profit, and these organizations are led by accomplished executives with strong, dedicated, talented teams."

Flanik's nomination emphasized team, saying the BW CIO "views all of his achievements as being the result of teamwork."  

The nomination also applauds the impressive track record of technology efficiency initiatives during Flanik's 16 years of leadership at BW, including the virtualization and consolidation of BW's network storage infrastructure, the implementation of a cost-saving print management system, development of a co-partnered 24/7 HelpDesk, and the current rollout of a new voice over IP telephone system.

CIO of the Year nominees are judged by a committee of their peer IT executives on issues such as vision, leadership, accomplishments, commitment to the IT community and other factors. Crain's Cleveland presents the awards as part of NEOSA's Tech Week. Flanik and the other finalists will be profiled in the April 6 issue of Crain’s Cleveland Business. 

BW Students and Faculty Broadcasters Win IBS Broadcasting Awards

Members of WBWC 88.3FM The Sting

Five BW student broadcasters and
two faculty members involved in the college's radio station, WBWC 88.3FM "The Sting," were Silver Microphone award winners in the 2015 Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS)Awards in  Excellence in Radio/TV/Webcasting.

WBWC broadcasts to the Cleveland and Lorain County area and was the first student-run radio station in the United States. Signed in 1986, this nonprofit radio station is educational and allows for first-hand experience in communication, business writing, public relations, and music.

The BW student IBS Silver Microphone winners for Best Promo Series include: station General Manager Liz Miller '15, a Broadcasting and Mass Communications major from Libson, Ohio; Bruce Stacey '16, the Program Director and Broadcasting and Mass Communications major also from Libson, and Michael Widman '15, music director and Marketing and Public Relations major from Bloomville, Ohio. Faculty members who were finalists for this category are production consultant, Todd Richards and Joe Tarantowski, WBWC Director of Broadcasting.

Sam Trap '17, a Broadcasting and Mass Communications major from Medina, OH took home a silver award for Best Underwriting Campaign. Bruce Stacey and Alex Nixon '18, a Deejay and Film Major from Medina, OH won Silver in the Best Liner category.

The award winners were recognized March 6-8 during the 74th Annual IBS Conference in New York City, where students also presented. 

BW Junior Broadcasting Major, Kyle Susman (left) and BW Senior Public Relations Major (right) in the station's studio

BW Advancement Officer Earns AFP Fundraising Executive Award

Tim McCormick, Debbie Miller (center) and Julie Johnson at the AFP Awards Ceremony

Deborah S. Miller, Senior Advancement Officer at Baldwin Wallace University, earned the Outstanding Fundraising Executive Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Greater Cleveland on National Philanthropy Day, an event dedicated to recognizing the contributions of philanthropy, as well as others within the giving community, whose altruism continues to better the world and the lives of others.

Miller has been in the development field for over 20 years. From major planned giving to board development, Miller has spearheaded and participated in many a philanthropy activities dedicated to the betterment of the community. Both "Cleveland Magazine" and "Inside Business" also recognized Miller and the other AFP award recipients for their good work.

Berea Veteran Amplifies Support for BW Military Students

The Baldwin Wallace community welcomed a new member on Veterans Day as Randy Stevenson, a veteran and Berea resident, was introduced as the University's first Veteran Student Services Coordinator.

In the new position, Stevenson will be tasked with assisting with the enrollment of student veterans returning to school to further their education at BW, focusing on academic and career advising and other support services.

In addition to being a military veteran with 11 years active duty service with the Army and National Guard, Stevenson has worked as a service coordinator with the Cuyahoga County Veterans Service Commission.

Stevenson joins a BW Veteran Support Team that currently supports 100 veterans enrolled in both undergraduate and graduate programs at BW. The University is recognized as a Yellow Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for its essential support of veterans continuing their education.

Stevenson's appointment was also featured on cleveland.com and in The Plain Dealer's Higher Education Roundup.

BW Computer Science Professor Fights Ebola in Liberia

Randy and Marcy Molmen

Randy Molmen, a professor in BW's Computer Science Department, his wife, Marcy, and his adopted son, Roosevelt Dolo, are working to stem the Ebola virus outbreak in Liberia. Their work was the focus of a an article in the Sun News and on Cleveland.com.

Roosevelt Dolo

Molmen and his family have had a personal connection to Liberia since their ten month long mission trip to the country in 2006-07. While in Liberia, Molmen and his wife taught at Cuttington University, where they met and adopted Dolo, a nursing student at the time. Fast forward and Dolo is now leading a movement in Liberia that provides families with health information about the Ebola virus to help eliminate common myths and misconceptions.


The Community Action Against Ebola team was created to educate the public and spread awareness. In addition to the information campaign, the Molmens are collecting donations to support Dolo and his team as they provide food to Ebola victims and basic necessities for survivors whose possessions have been burned following their diagnoses.

Donations can be made to the St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Berea. Funds are sent to Liberia weekly. 

BW Financial Aid Officer Recognized for Dedication to Students

A BW administrator who works hard every day to help students maximize sources of funding for their education has been recognized as one of the best in the state!

At the spring conference of the Ohio Association of Financial Aid Administrators (OASFAA), Cheryl Willard, associate director of BW Financial Aid was presented with the James W. White award.

The award is given annually to a member of the 45-year-old OASFAA who exemplifies "dedication to students, to the aid community, and to the local community."

Willard, a past president of the organization, is pictured with current president Randy Green.

Men's Chorus Wows Radio Audience

Members of the BW Men’s Chorus under the direction of Frank Bianchi entertained more than 100 audience members in the Gund Studio at the Idea Center® in Cleveland...  and many more listening on WCLV radio.  The station found the performance so enjoyable, they decided to rebroadcast it on December 24 at 10 a.m. OR you can listen online, on demand, any time.

Men, college-age and up, from throughout the Greater Cleveland community, including BW faculty, staff and students, make up the Men's Chorus, which is an offering included in BW's robust Conservatory Outreach Department.

The BW Men’s Chorus peforms at the Idea Center. That's WCLV radio host Bill O'Connell in the red sweater.

Yellow Jacket Generosity Puts a Sting in Hunger

The generous BW community “put a sting in hunger" this week according to Cynthia Gornik from the Finance Department, who rallied the troops for a campus food drive. As faculty, staff and students who are still on campus gathered together for the annual holiday luncheon yesterday, they dropped off 1,455 pounds of food and $230 in cash donations for the Cleveland Foodbank.

Gornik extended special thanks to Ed Murray for enduring the cold as donations were collected and for transporting the donations to the Foodbank. Alan Conn, The BW Women’s Basketball Team, Mary Reniff, Rachel Barkfelt, and Lauren Schneider also provided special support for the project. Well done, Yellow Jackets!

BW Administrator Honored by the YWCA of Elyria

Annie Heidersbach ‘87, director of BW’s corporate and foundation relations, will be honored a Woman of Achievement for by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Elyria.

According to the YWCA’s website, the organization exists to “eliminate racism and empower women.” Among fifteen other Women of Achievement, Heidersbach will be commended for her award at a luncheon to be held at Avon Oaks Country Club in November.