Dr. Temple Grandin in Nitschke Auditorium

Despite challenging weather, UToledo's Nitschke Auditorium was filled beyond its 1,000 seat capacity to overflowing with people who turned out to see autism advocate Dr. Temple Grandin as the guest speaker for the 2024-25 Edward Shapiro Distinguished Lecture Series. Those who couldn't find a seat in the auditorium were able to see the lecture via livestream in an overflow space. Her topic was "Great Minds are Not All the Same."

Telling It Our Way, a podcast produced by Rebecca Monteleone (Disability Studies Program) and Dr. Ally Day, was just selected by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for its 2025 Media Award. AAIDD is the leading professional organization for practitioners and scholars working in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. The award is given "to an individual, organization, or program that has depicted Americans with disabilities in the nominated medium in a positive light."

Telling It Our Way is produced as part of “Voices Around Us®, a podcast initiative produced by WGTE Public Media and local Content Creators that celebrate voices and stories from Toledo, NW Ohio and beyond. Voices Around Us® podcasts are available at www.wgte.org, the WGTE mobile app and major Streaming Platforms.

Voices Around Us® is supported in part by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds allocated by the City of Toledo and the Lucas County Commissioners and administered by The Arts Commission.

Recently, Barry Jackisch, the Philip Markowicz Endowed Professor in Judaism and Jewish Biblical Studies (Department of History), visited the Ohio Statehouse. He delivered the keynote speech at the commemoration honoring International Holocaust Remembrance Day, presented by the Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission (OHGMEC).

The day was officially designated by the United Nations in 2005 as a global day of reflection to remember the six million Jews who perished during the Holocaust. This year's event holds special significance, marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. 

Dr. Jackisch's talk can be seen online.

Sita Dasa, a recent Ph.D. graduate (2023) in the Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education, recently published a book based on her dissertation entitled "Dynamic Empowerment in Peace Education: A Three -Angle Approach" (2025, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, United Kingdom). 

The book explores empowerment as a key component to peace education, delineates the difference between effective and ineffective approaches to empowerment, and offers a philosophical and pedagogical approach to dynamic and evolutionary empowerment practices. With a focus on fairness, peace practices, and constructivist approaches to education it highlights essential teachings on nonviolence/satyagraha, moral constructivism, existentialism, and biocentrism, to guide educators who engage in critical reflection.

Education students set to graduate this May kicked off their spring semester with Student Teacher Orientation on January 15th. The event provided a full day of guidance on launching their careers, including presentations from the Rocket Career Center on interview preparation ahead of the UTeach Job Fair on April 1st, as well as important information about the licensure process.

Students also engaged in a creative art activity with their field supervisors, decorating small canvases that reflected their personal connection to teaching or their reasons for choosing a career in education. The finished canvases are now proudly on display in the Office of Student Services in Gillham Hall.

Edward Janak, acting associate dean of the Judith Herb College of Education, co-edited the fifth volume of "Teaching Popular Culture in the Humanities Classroom," recently published, with the sixth volume published this month. This volume explores the pedagogical value of popular culture, emphasizing its effective use in teaching. It includes chapters on using pop culture to engage students and deepen understanding, offering practical guidance for educators and scholars in the humanities.

Timothy Geiger (English Language and Literature) published his fourth book of poetry, "In a Field of Hallowed Be," in September with Terrapin Books.

Gregory Stone (Department of Educational Studies) co-authored an article, "An Effectiveness Study of Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools Used to Develop Multiple-Choice Test Items," published in the special issue "Artificial Intelligence in Education: Shaping the Next Generation of Teaching and Learning" (Education Sciences, Vol 15, Issue 2).

Dustin Pearson published poems in "Diode," "The Boiler," "Heavy Feather Review," "Zócalo Public Square," and "The Laurel Review."

Ashley Pryor (Philosophy and Religious Studies Program) presented "Whose Argument is It Anyway: Improv Games for the Philosophy Classroom" at the American Philosophical Association Conference in New York City with my colleague, Russell Marcus (Hamilton College).

Joseph Gamble (Department of English Language and Literature) was a co-convenor and presenter at the Early Modern Trans Studies Conference at the University of Michigan.

Eric Zeigler (Department of Art) is currently recognized on the University of Michigan Biological Station website for his work created during an artist residency with the program (2022). 

CONGRATULATIONS

Natalie Bullock (Department of English Language and Literature) was among 5 employees selected to receive the University’s 2024 Outstanding Staff Awards from a pool of exceptional staff nominations. She has been with UToledo since 2017.

Among those who nominated her, it was noted:

“[She] motivates and inspires the people around her to strive for excellence. Natalie has often been a source of calming wisdom on countless occasions for students. She speaks from experience, and thus advises graduate students on professionalism.”

Professor emeritus, Seamus Metress was honored with a special lunch with Interim President Matt Schroeder to recognize his decades of deep commitment and dedicated service to the University. He was recognized along with Dr. Don Wedding, an associate professor in the Department of Management in the John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation.

To see more faculty and student achievements, visit our website.

The Crescent-News (Feb. 3, 2025) Air Quality Topic of Annual Lecture Series at Patrick Henry Local Schools

Dr. Kevin Czajkowski, a Distinguished University Professor of geography, discussed air quality and how students can monitor it using low-cost sensors in a lecture at Patrick Henry Local Schools.

Cleveland Jewish News (Jan. 30, 2025) Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine: Holocaust Education ‘Must Not End’

Dr. Barry Jackisch, an associate professor of history and the Philip Markowicz Endowed Professor of Judaism and Jewish Biblical Studies, discusses the horrors of the Holocaust. Jackisch spoke earlier this week at an event honoring International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

WTOL 11 (Jan. 21, 2025) What to Expect From Second Trump Term

Sam Nelson (Department of Political Science and Public Administration) discusses changes anticipated in the standard operations of Washington, D.C., under President Donald Trump.

WTOL 11 (Jan. 21, 2025) Difference in Donald Trump Presidential Terms

Sam Nelson (Department of Political Science and Public Administration) discusses how a cabinet made up of more loyalists and fewer traditional party figures could play out in the second presidential term of President Donald Trump.

France 24 (Jan. 20, 2025) Trump decrees end of diversity programs, LGBTQ protections

Jami Taylor (Department of Political Science and Public Administration) discusses the impact of President Trump's efforts to rollback LGBTQ protections and dismantle DEI.

Roll Call (Jan. 17, 2025) Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted will succeed JD Vance in Senate

Sam Nelson (Department of Political Science and Public Administration) discusses governor, Mike DeWine's decision to choose his second-in-command to represent Ohio in the senate, replacing vice president, JD Vance.

13 ABC (Jan. 9, 2025) 2026 Ohio Governor's Race

Sam Nelson (Department of Political Science and Public Administration) discusses the political landscape of the 2026 gubernatorial election in Ohio.

Vogue (Dec. 31, 2024) The New Year’s Eve Kiss Tradition, Explained

Daniel Compora (Department of English Language and Literature) discusses how German immigrants brought the custom of a midnight kiss to the United States.

Vogue (Dec. 30, 2024) Why Do People Associate Eating Grapes on New Year’s Eve With Good Luck?

Daniel Compora (Department of English Language and Literature) discusses the origins and modern interpretation of a New Year’s tradition that has people eating 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight.

Reader’s Digest (Dec. 13, 2024) This is the Fascinating Origin of Baby New Year — and it Goes Back Much Further Than You Probably Think

Daniel Compora (Department of English Language and Literature) discusses the symbolism and origins of “Baby New Year,” which is sometimes seen ushering in the new year on Jan. 1.

See previous media appearance on our website.