Area campus notes

Upper Sandusky’s D’Ettorre earns medical residency

ROOTSTOWN — Theresa D’Ettorre was among the 126 Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Medicine students to learn their medical residency match during a celebration for National Residency Match Day, held March 15 in the New Center Ballroom.

D’Ettorre learned they will be serving a Family Medicine residency at PeaceHealth Southwest Med Ctr-WA in Vancouver, Washington.

D’Ettorre is currently a fourth-year medicine student at NEOMED, and will move on to their residency following graduation this spring. A commencement celebration will be held Saturday.

The residency match is a culmination of four years of hard work and dedication to train to become a physician and transformative leader in the field of medicine.

Overall, 126 fourth-year students matched with residencies throughout the U.S. for a 100% match rate of all students who applied for a match.

Upper Sandsky’s Smith performs in Mount Union spring choir concert

ALLIANCE — The University of Mount Union Concert Choir, Cantus, Kantorei and Voce Bassa, under the direction of Beth Polen, presented a spring concert entitled, “Homecomin” on April 26 and 27.

“Homecomin” included pieces by Kyle Pederson, Moira Smiley, Gustav Holst and Nadia Boulanger, among others. Amy Haines served as the collaborative pianist.

— Steven Smith, of Upper Sandusky, performed with Voce Bassa.

For more information on these and other ensembles, visit mountunion.edu/choir.

Fackler inducted into Order of the Engineer

ANGOLA, Ind. — Forty-three students in Trine University’s Allen School of Engineering and Computing were inducted into the Order of the Engineer for the spring semester.

— Luke Fackler, of Kenton, majoring in electrical engineering, was among the students honored.

A ring ceremony on April 24 in Fabiani Theatre celebrated the public induction of candidates into the Order of the Engineer, a fellowship of engineers who are trained in science and technology and dedicated to the practice, teaching or administration of their profession.

During the ceremony, engineering students are invited to accept the Obligation of the Engineer and a stainless steel ring is placed on the smallest finger of the working hand. The obligation is a formal statement of an engineer’s responsibilities to the public and to the profession. Both the order and the obligation serve to stimulate public recognition by engineers of two basic principles: that the primary purpose of the engineering profession is the protection of the public health, safety and welfare; and that all members of the engineering profession share a common bond.

Trine University conducted its first ring ceremony in November 1978.

Owens Early Learning Center receives $10K grant

FINDLAY — The five-star quality-rated Owens Community College Early Learning Center will feature new equipment benefiting the children it serves thanks to a $10,000 Handbags that Help Women’s Giving Circle grant from the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation.

The grant, presented to Owens Community College and three other organizations at a ceremony at Findlay Country Club, will lead a multi-year effort to upgrade the center’s play facilities, funding the purchase of an indoor climber and outdoor activity set.

The Owens Community College Foundation facilitated the grant application.

“We are forever grateful to the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation for this generous gift that will benefit so many developing, young children in the community,” said Kelle Pack, Owens Community College Foundation executive director and vice president for institutional advancement.

“The project was selected because of its impact on building strong families in the community,” Pack added. “The Handbags that Help Women’s Giving Circle award referenced the Early Learning Center’s innovative programming and developmentally appropriate curriculums as well as the opportunity for professional developmental and career opportunities for students from Owens and the University of Findlay working at the center. These young people serve as role models and advocates for quality early childhood education.”

Hosted by the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, Handbags That Help is a women’s giving circle dedicated to building strong families and increasing philanthropy in Hancock County. The organization collectively funds significant grants to charitable projects and programs in the community. The giving circle has awarded $726,322 since it began in 2008.

More information about the Early Learning Center is available at www.owens.edu/childcare.

To support future phases of the project, contact www.owens.edu/foundation.

Ohio State Marion 

honors regional workforce development professional

MARION — Director of Marion Can Do, Gus Comstock was honored with the Ralph Howard Service Award Friday, April 19th, at 6:30 p.m. in Morrill Hall Auditorium during the campus’s annual Academic Recognition Ceremony.

The Ralph Howard Service Award is presented each year by the Marion Campus Board to an individual or an organization that has contributed to the development of academic programs or the honors program and has made a significant impact on the quality of education at The Ohio State University at Marion.

According to Ohio State Marion Director of Development and Community Relations, Cathy Gerber, Comstock was nominated for the Ralph Howard Service Award because he is an outstanding Ohio State Marion ambassador in the Marion community.

“Gus recognizes the asset of Ohio State Marion in the Marion community and adds Ohio State Marion to the top of his list of meetings with new business leaders who are considering bringing their enterprises to Marion, Ohio,” Gerber said.

Gerber said, “He repeatedly connects community leaders with campus initiatives and programs to help further educate the Marion community about all the excellent programs and events happening on our campus.”

“Gus is a wonderful friend of Ohio State Marion, and we are grateful for this service and commitment to furthering educational opportunities and development in our community,” Gerber concluded.

Prior to taking his role with Marion CAN DO!, Comstock served as director of economic development for the city of Delaware in Ohio, Delaware County, Ohio, and the city of Chillicothe, Ohio. Comstock has a combined thirty years of experience managing city, county, and non-profit economic development programs.

Comstock also knows a lot about the university that bestowed this honor upon him. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from The Ohio State University and later a Master of Arts in International Development from Ohio University, Athens, Ohio. Prior to his multiple roles as an economic development director, he was a lieutenant in tactical intelligence for the U.S. Navy.

Comstock shared that his partnership with The Ohio State University continues today because of Ohio State’s presence and importance to economic development in the community.

“I was very honored to receive the award,”  Comstock said. “As companies consider expanding or locating to Marion, Ohio State Marion is always available and accessible to showcase their high quality and leading-edge education programs, like the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology.”

“Companies want to know that educational programs for their current or future employees address their needs,” he added. “Ohio State Maron is an engaged community, business, and regional leader.”

“Actually, I should be giving Ohio State Marion an award for making Marion a competitive location,” Comstock said. “In fact, over half a billion dollars has been invested by Marion companies over the last ten years because of our education and workforce training programs.”

“The Ohio State University at Marion should be proud of its commitment to drawing top companies and employees to Marion,” he said.

Gerber went on to specifically emphasize that Comstock has helped connect local manufacturers with the campus in the development of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology degree program and ensured potential new businesses are aware of the higher education asset we have right here in the Marion community.

She added that he has been instrumental in helping to implement the Marion Microfarm project in the Marion community and has served on the Marion Microfarm Task Force team since its inception. 

Leo named Ohio University’s executive vice president and provost

ATHENS — Ohio University President Lori Stewart Gonzalez recently announced that Donald J. Leo, Ph.D., has been named the University’s executive vice president and provost effective July 1.

“We are so excited and fortunate to welcome Don to the OHIO community. As a proven academic leader, scholar and educator, he has demonstrated effectiveness in working collaboratively to support students and faculty, which will positively impact the entire University community,” President Lori Stewart Gonzalez said. “Don will be a strong partner in advancing our academic mission to meet the needs of current and future students. I look forward to working alongside him to advance our dynamic strategies.”

Leo, who most recently served as the first dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia, is a professor of mechanical engineering whose higher education career spans over 25 years. During his tenure as dean, engineering enrollment at UGA grew fourfold to over 2,700 students, research activity increased significantly, and the college developed numerous partnerships and outreach activities to enhance community engagement. 

Previously, he served as associate dean for research and graduate studies at the Virginia Tech College of Engineering and professor of mechanical engineering and vice president and executive director of the National Capital Region operations, also at Virginia Tech. In conjunction with his position at Virginia Tech, Leo served as a program manager for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, a unit of the Department of Defense, where he created programs in the field of biologically inspired materials and systems and managed a portfolio of approximately $50 million in interdisciplinary research.

Leo’s research focuses on smart materials and he has served as principal investigator on 50 research grants and contracts with approximately $12 million in extramural funding.

He holds a Ph.D. and an M.S. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Buffalo, and a B.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to have been selected as Ohio University’s next Executive Vice President and Provost,” Leo said. “I am passionate about helping students and faculty reach their full potential and look forward to working across campus and with our partners to support student success, advance scholarship and enhance the excellence of OHIO’s educational experience.”

President Gonzalez extended her gratitude to Dr. Elizabeth Sayrs, who has served Executive Vice President and Provost since 2020.

“I would like to thank Elizabeth for her service as Executive Vice President and Provost over the past four years,” Gonzalez said. “During her tenure, she oversaw the successful transition of our general education program from tiers to BRICKS, reimagined our student success services model through the development of the ACE, and created efficiencies through the implementation of a system-wide approach to regional higher education. I wish her the very best in her next chapter.”