The Ambassador

From the Division of Institutional Advancement

Greetings, Central State University Alumni and Friends,

It's the last Ambassador of the year, and we're wishing you all a very happy holiday season ahead! We thank you in advance for reading the news of the month at Central State for this December 2023 edition of our regular bulletin featuring faculty news, student achievements, and partnerships at Central State University. Together, we are cultivating a living and learning environment where students thrive. This month, we are showcasing vital news from around campus and upcoming events that you'll want to be sure to add to your calendar!

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Marauder Land Media group touts fall semester accomplishments

Central State students achieved numerous accomplishments during the fall semester of 2023, thanks to the efforts of the newly formed Marauder Land Media Group (MMG) student organization.

MMG operates under the direction of Central State's TV production studio manager, Stanley B. Jefferson II. The group hosted a series of speakers, including Central State alumni, as well as TV journalists and managers from Dayton and Cincinnati.

These professionals shared their experiences and provided valuable insights into the fast-paced and deadline-driven field of television news, equipping members with the skills and knowledge they need to secure their first jobs.

Professor wins National Excellence in Agricultural Teaching Award

Teaching is one of the world’s noblest professions, and Central State Associate Professor Brandy Phipps, Ph.D., takes her job very seriously, selflessly pouring into the students every day. She was recently awarded a national Excellence in Teaching Award affirming this steadfastness.

On Nov. 13, Phipps was among eight public university faculty from around the country honored by the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) for their work educating students.

According to the APLU, the USDA National Awards for Excellence in College and University Teaching in the Food and Agricultural Sciences, sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the APLU, generates nominations from departments in agriculture, natural resources, veterinary science, and human sciences across the country. In addition to six regional awards, a selection committee of nationally recognized teachers and scholars chooses two national recipients and two early career awards.

Central State superstars

Jason Dunn

CSU connection: Foundation Board member

Achievement: Dunn has recently been appointed to the TourismOhio Advisory Board by Gov. Mike DeWine through which he will make continuous, progressive connections between visiting corporate partners and Central State in hopes of creating new vocational opportunities for Marauders

Fun fact: Dunn first learned about Central State after bringing on an intern who was a Marauder and eventually became one of his full-time employees

"Our job on the Foundation Board is to help find resources to ensure that Central State can become one of the best colleges in the country.” — Dunn

HeavenNezCree

CSU connection: Centralian

Achievement: After graduating from Central State, during which time she was a Dancing Belle and a Miss Central State, HeavenNezCree went on to become a successful multimedia storyteller, producing and performing in numerous short films, documentaries, podcasts, and more in both New York City and Los Angeles where she currently resides

Fun fact: Her unique name was ceremoniously given to her by her grandfather and means "to ascend"

“Being able to use equipment that we otherwise wouldn’t have been able to get our hands on and the continued support I received through my time at Central State made all of the difference." — HeavenNezCree

Discover more about HeavenNezCree's films and other storytelling work

Brian "Scottie" Irving

CSU connection: Centralian

Achievement: Irving has become a high-profile construction and real estate development mogul who credits his sense of leadership and social responsibility to his time as a student and active community member while at Central State

Fun Fact: Irving's first major entrepreneurial effort was a business he started from out of the trunk of his car selling T-shirts with friends for his Summer Madness line while still in his late teens

“I was always integrating what I learned at Central State in Sociology and still do today. It was at Central State that I got to understand myself better and my commitment to the community because they always stressed that to me." — Irving

Learn more about Irving's prolific career as entrepreneur and humanitarian

News from across campus and beyond

Second RISE to the Challenge Summit set for January 2024

Central State is thrilled to present the eagerly awaited RISE to the Challenge Summit, an extraordinary event for fostering career growth and establishing valuable connections.

This event promises an unparalleled opportunity for career development and networking among area college students, Central State alumni and corporate partners, local professionals, and other individuals to come together and network.

Central State ROTC wins 3rd place in Brigade Bold Warrior Ranger Challenge

Central State's Battalion Ranger Challenge Team won third place out of 38 teams in the Brigade Bold Warrior Range Challenge Competition, displaying the resilient spirit of the University.

The Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) competition takes place annually in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Teams from the Midwest, including universities and colleges, compete against one another in various physically demanding activities, such as obstacle courses, relay races, and team-building exercises.

These teams undergo rigorous training starting early in the semester, with daily practices throughout the week, to prepare for this intense competition. The U.S. Army ROTC ensures that the participants are well-equipped and trained to handle the challenges presented.

Police chief opens pantry for students in need

An unlikely place on one college campus is trying to make sure students still have a way to eat for the holidays and beyond.

If you walk into the police department at Central State, you might find a little-known room the chief said few people expect to see. “We did this for five years without anybody even knowing it,” Chief Stephanie Hill said.

Watch the full segment via Spectrum News 1 here

Theatre Arts Program students perform in Central State-produced NARCAN PSA

In late November, Central State University’s Division of Institutional Advancement — responsible for the school’s marketing and publicity — produced a five-minute PSA about the use of NARCAN. NARCAN is the brand name of Naloxone, a medicinal fluid used as part of a nasal spray kit that can save lives by resuscitating someone in the dangerous throes of a drug overdose.

The video features student and Thurgood Marshall College Fund Yard representative Asia Kimpson, Central State family nurse practitioner Connie Helmuth, CSU Police Department’s Sgt. Jose Jolliffe-Haas, CSU Police Chief Stephanie Hill, and two students from Central State’s Title IIII Theatre Arts Program’s Introduction to Drama class.

1890 leader discusses NEXTGEN AWARD

The Research Connection Podcast recently welcomed Central State's Dr. Morakinyo Kuti to discuss the variety of food and agricultural research CSU has embarked on since 2014 with more than $100 million received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other public sources.

Cyril Ibe, communications and media specialist for the 1890 Land-Grant Program at Central State, and Kuti, vice president for Research and Economic Development and director of the 1890 Land-Grant Programs, discussed the NEXTGEN award on the podcast.

Listen to the full segment here via SoundCloud

Foundation Board contribution to support the purchase of band uniforms

Central State is deeply grateful for the generous $85,000 gift from the Central State University Foundation as part of our Giving Tuesday initiative. This invaluable contribution will be used to purchase much-needed band uniforms that will significantly enhance the overall musical experience for the University’s exceptionally talented musicians in the Band Department.

Spotlight on: Connie Helmuth

Connie Helmuth is a family nurse practitioner (FNP) with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) who has been a longtime stalwart at Central State’s Health Center.

She was previously lauded as NP (Nurse Practitioner) Preceptor of the Year while working at another college, and in 2019, she earned the recognition of Public Nurse of the Year through the March of Dimes.

Learn more about Helmuth and her impactful, touching story of how and why she became the distinguished nurse she works every day to be while serving Central State.

Interim President Alex Johnson featured in The CEO Magazine

Throughout his decades-long career in higher education, Alex Johnson always held onto one desire – to return to one of the United States’ 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to contribute his expertise.

“I wanted to provide whatever assistance I could to ensure that they remain true to their mission around access and success,” he tells The CEO Magazine.

News in photos

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The Ambassador is a University Communications publication designed to keep students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, friends, and others informed about news and developments at Central State University.