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News and Events
May 2025
NEXT ISSUE: September 2025
| | Honors and Awards Ceremony Recognizes Top Students | | |
On May 2, the day before commencement, the College of Arts and Letters took the time to celebrate its top students with its annual Honors and Awards Ceremony.
Highlights from this year's event: Elizabeth C. Blakely-White received the college's top honor of Outstanding Student. This past weekend, she graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. degree in geography and planning and also earned the Geographic Information Science and Technology Certificate. In addition, she presented research this year at the national annual meeting of the American Association of Geographers.
Pictured below, left to right: Patrick Lawrence, Chair of the department of Geography and Planning; Elizabeth C. Blakely-White; and Dean Melissa Gregory.
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Autumn Molnar (not pictured), an English major, won the Dean's Prize for a short prose essay for her work, "Challenging Gender Norms: Queer Desire, Misogyny, and Masculinity in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein."
Winning the Dean's Prize for a long prose essay was Sam M. Ruff, an English major, for "A Handless Handmade Book: My Human Effort Versus ChatGPT's Generated Attempt."
There were two winners of the Dean's Prize for creative work. One is Anna Rogers, a film/video major, for her work "A Quest for Color," and the other is Breeanne Stouffer, a theatre major, for her "Silent Sky Costume Design and Dramaturgy." See the online program with all the winners.
| | Sam M. Ruff, B.A. English, winner of the Dean's Prize for Long Prose Essay; and Dean, Melissa Gregory | | Anna Rogers, B.A. Film/Video, winner of the Dean's Prize for Creative Work; and Dean Melissa Gregory | | Breeanne Stouffer, B.A. theatre, winner of the Dean's Prize for Creative Work; and Dean Melissa Gregory | | Language Professor Receives Lifetime Achievement Award | | Dr. Cheng (right) with the Executive Director of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages (NCOLCTL), Dr. Antonia Schleicher (left) at the award ceremony dinner of the NCOLCTL Conference in April. | |
An Chung Cheng, Ph.D.
Director of Asian Studies, Spanish and Chinese Language Instructor
Dr. Cheng (Department of World Languages and Cultures) was selected as the 2025 Walton Award winner by the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages (NCOLCTL). She was presented with this lifetime achievement award at the NCOLCTL conference in April.
"Receiving the Walton Award is both an incredible honor and a deeply personal milestone," said Dr. Cheng, who teaches Spanish and Chinese and directs the Asian Studies Program. She has secured more than $1.5 million in federal funding to support language initiatives through UToledo, which offers minors in Arabic, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish, along with certificates in these languages and Chinese, to students enrolled in diverse academic programs across the University.
| | | Disability Studies Professor Named Distinguished Historian by Ohio Academy of History | | The Ability Center of Greater Toledo Endowed Chair of Disability Studies, Kim Nielsen, Ph.D., was presented with the Ohio Academy of History’s 2025 Distinguished Historian Award. She is the author of “A Disability History of the United States” and co-editor of the “Oxford Handbook of Disability History,” and she has written or edited three books on Helen Keller. Nielsen also served as the founding president of the Disability History Association, an international nonprofit that promotes the study of disabilities throughout history. More... | | | Language Teacher Named Distinguished University Lecturer | | | | |
Michael Kistner (Department of World Languages and Cultures), who teaches Spanish, has been named a Distinguished University Lecturer. This is the highest honor the University can bestow on a lecturer. “The Distinguished University Lecturer is an honor reserved for the most dedicated educators who have consistently displayed a commitment to provide our students with a world-class education,” said Dr. Scott Molitor, interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.
This is not the first time the University has recognized Kistner. In 2022, he received the Outstanding Teacher Award.
| | | Art Professor to be a TMA Digital Artist in Residence | | | | |
UToledo art students are fortunate to study with top faculty like Professor Dan Hernandez. Hernandez was recently selected as the Toledo Museum of Art's Community Digital Artist in Residence. He and Digital Artist in Residence, Emily Xie, a New York City-based visual artist, will collaborate on works to be displayed at the TMA. They'll also create a one-of-one digital artwork available for sale through the renowned auction house Christie’s.
Read more...
| | | Faculty Receive Research Awards and Fellowships | | | | |
Our college would like to recognize and congratulate faculty members who received research awards and fellowships for their projects. Thanks for all your hard work. We are so proud of you!
Professor Snejana Slantcheva-Durst (Department of Educational Studies) received the Interdisciplinary Research Initiation Award for her project, "Pioneering Medical Education for Women."
Receiving funding from the Research Awards and Fellowships Program are:
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Ayendy Bonifacio (Department of English Language and Literature) for his project, "Specters of Hispaniola: Ephemera, Race, and Print;"
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Minxuan Lan (Department of Geography and Planning), director of the Spatial Social Science Research Lab, for his project, "A Spatial Analytical Approach to Assess the Impact of Toledo's Hollywood Casino on Local Crime;"
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Dustin Pearson (Department of English Language and Literature) for his project, "Platonic Love: A Letterpress Artist Book;"
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Eric Zeigler (Department of Art) for his project, "EAT: Questioning the photography of our food."
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(Top) Snejana Slantcheva-Durst
(Middle row, left to right) Ayendy Bonifacio and Minxuan Lan
(Bottom row, left to right) Dustin Pearson and Eric Zeigler
| | UTeach Job Fair Creates Job Connections for Education Students | | |
In collaboration with the University of Toledo’s Rocket Career Center, we hosted the annual UTeach Job Fair in April. This event brought together dozens of school districts nationwide to meet with 78 graduating student teachers.
“This job fair is one of the many ways UToledo advances the success of our Education majors — by connecting them with future employers. UToledo Education students get outstanding training and are ready to hit the ground running in any school,” said Dr. Melissa Gregory, dean of the College of Arts and Letters. “This was a perfect opportunity for our future teachers to make critical contact with school districts of their choice — and be introduced to new possibilities they weren’t even aware of.”
Read more...
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Political Science Graduate Wins Scholarship While Studying Abroad
Antoine Washington, who graduated this semester with a B.A. in political science and minors in history and law and social thought, was awarded a prestigious scholarship while studying abroad in Japan. "As a political science major, I thought it was important to get a view of global politics outside the view of America and the West.”
While in Japan, he received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, which provides awards for U.S. undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.
Read more...
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Education Graduate Student - An Advocate for Reform
Kimberlie Kowalka Todd, a Ph.D. student in foundations of education, is an advocate for education reform. Last month, she presented her research at the research project “Literacy Everywhere!: Designing Supports for Early Literacy and Awareness for Families Experiencing Housing Instability," at the American Educational Research Association annual meeting in Denver.
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Special Education Graduate Turned His Disability into a Strength
Trey Lampkin has Stargardt’s disease, a visual disorder that obscures his central vision. Growing up, he struggled in school due to his impairment. But rather than hold him back, his challenging experiences led him to major in special education. He graduated this past weekend with a 3.9 GPA despite a high school GPA of only 1.8.
“What changed? My professors and my work ethic,” he said. "My professors have always seen my vision of working with students with disabilities. They have always made sure to help me in any way." Learn more about Trey's inspiring story...
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History Graduate Student to Help Write his Home Country's History
Boitshoko Molefhi is pursuing a Ph.D. in history at UToledo, largely because the history of his home country of Botswana is so limited. He hopes to change that with his own contributions to telling its story. Learn more...
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Graduate Council Honors Geography Ph.D. Student
The University of Toledo Graduate Council recognized several outstanding graduate students nominated by their advisor or program for their special academic accomplishments including authorship of peer reviewed papers, professional awards, or other distinguished accomplishments.
Olawale Oluwafemi (Femi) was among the graduate students receiving this award. Femi is a Ph.D. student in the Spatially Integrated Social Science (SISS) program in the Department of Geography and Planning.
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Communication Student to Work for NCAA After Graduation
Lucie Morris, who graduated this semester with a B.A. in communication and a minor in marketing, has begun working at the NCAA in Indianapolis.
As a student, Morris was a member of UToledo’s Women’s swim team, served as the president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee for the last two years, and also interned with the Athletic Department.
“I’ve learned a ton this semester in working behind the scenes with athletic fundraising, donors and event planning,” she said. “I’m super passionate about people and storytelling, and I’m excited to begin this new career with the NCAA.”
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WGST Students Attend National Conference
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A group of Women's and Gender Studies (WGST) students who were funded by the UToledo Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women, attended the National Young Feminist Leadership Conference in Washington, DC.
Students shown are Faith Kern, Bryanna Nelson, Kylah Griffin, Nicole Abbott, Randi Pike, and Emily Wegert.
| | Education Students to Spend Summer Educating Military Personnel's Children in Rocket Kids Program | | |
The University of Toledo is proud to announce the third year of Rocket Kids, a transformational experiential learning program providing educational and recreational programming for children and youth of the United States Army in Europe. This initiative not only fills a vital childcare need for military families but also offers students an unforgettable journey of service, cultural exchange, and professional growth.
This summer, Rocket Kids will send its largest cohort yet — 95 students — to serve on 11 U.S. military bases across Europe, including locations in Germany, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Meet 4 of our students who will be part of this summer's cohort.
| | Hether Diehl (Middle Childhood Education) will serve in Stuttgart, Germany. "I’ve done summer camps before but nothing as extraordinary as the Rocket Kids program. I’m so beyond thrilled to get to help provide a fun experience for military children and be a part of this incredible tradition." | | Lainey Marx (Middle Childhood Education with Concentrations in Math and Science, minor in Counseling) will be part of Rocket Kids for the second time - this year in Ansbach, Germany. Last year, she was in Italy. "Last summer was filled with memories...I am so grateful that I get this experience of working with kids, giving back to the people who sacrifice so much to serve our country." | | Bryden Meyer (adolescent and young adult education, integrated sciences) will go to Vicenza, Italy. "The program really provides an opportunity to sharpen my skills at building relationships with the kiddos." | | Marysa King (Middle Childhood Education) will also be serving in Italy. She says, "This is such an exciting opportunity because not only do I get to do what I love and am most passionate about — working with children — but it is also an amazing way to give back to those serving our country and their families." | | |
See all these events and more on our calendar! It is available online at utoledo.edu/al/calendar. Please bookmark it! If you have a college event to share, you can also share it there by clicking on the Submit Event link on the page.
Each event below links to its calendar event online when you click the event's title.
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PUBLISHING/CREATIVE WORK
An Chung Cheng (Department of World Languages and Cultures) presented her work, "Engaging students in learning Chinese through the GRR Model: A STARTALK Experience," in a panel on Pedagogical Innovations and Best Practices for Less Commonly Taught Languages at the 2025 Conference of the National Council of the Less Commonly Taught Languages (NCOLCTL) in April, in Chicago, IL.
Rebecca Monteleone (Disability Studies Program) is the lead author on an article published in Media, Culture, and Society entitled “'You’ve got to either adapt to us or get out of the field’: A qualitative analysis of people with intellectual disabilities’ perspectives on journalism and news media” co-authored with Beena Raghav, Amy Silverman, Phillis Schmidbauer, Darius Cunningham, and Marissa Kuehn. Marissa is a DST undergraduate student at UToledo. (April)
Jason Cox (Department of Art) presented a role-playing game for educators as part of the Transformative Play Initiative, conducted by the Department of Game Design at Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. His presentation was titled "Playing With/For/As Art: Games as Arts-Based Research for Pre-Service Educators."
Teresa Boyer, Michelle Davidson, Alex DeRosa and Suzanne Smith (Department of English Language and Literature) presented at the College English Association of Ohio Spring Conference at Kent State. Their presentation, "Writing the University: Adjusting the Sails with Place-Based Assignments," explained how they use writing assignments to promote a sense of belonging and a UT Rocket identity by connecting students with campus spaces, resources, and organizations. (April)
Sharon Barnes (Women's and Gender Studies) presented “Woke Gender Ideology and the ‘Defense’ of Women” at the Spring 2025 Featuring Feminist Faculty Lecture Series held at UToledo. (April)
Barbara Miner and Professor Emerita Deb Davis (Department of Art) are collaborating on an exhibit of their work. Using mixed media and different approaches to art practice, they have created artworks inspired by the resilience of nature, meditative observation, scientific processes, and the impact of human biology and behavior. "Layers" is on display at the Secor Building in downtown Toledo through May 31.
CONGRATULATIONS
Rebecca Monteleone (Disability Studies Program) is a named collaborator on a recently awarded grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, “Pitching ‘RelaxComm’: Reshaping Access in Disability Media Access Studies” – the project’s PI is Chelsea Jones at Brock University, and the grant will provide $320,000 over the next 5 years to support disabled and crip-identified young media makers from Canada, the U.S., and Australia in co-creating accessible media primed to improve how the public understands disability.
Anthony Edgington (Department of English Language and Literature) was elected Vice President of the College English Association of Ohio. (April)
To see more faculty and student achievements, visit our website.
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Ohio Capital Journal (May 6, 2025) Ohio Economists: Cutting Library Funding Will Reduce "Human Capital," Hurt the Economy
Kevin Egan (Department of Economics) explained some of the ways public libraries contribute to workforce development.
The Blade (May 1, 2025) Special Events: Arts Commission Presents The Mix
Barbara Miner (Department of Art) and Deb A. Davis, a UToledo professor emerita of art, are showcasing their work in the exhibition, “Layers,” at the Secor Building.
WTOL 11 (April 29, 2025) Trump 100-Days Rally in Michigan Today
Sam Nelson (Department of Political Science and Public Administration) discussed President Donald Trump's political strategy and approval ratings as he reached 100 days in the Oval Office.
The Blade (April 17, 2025) UToledo Professor to Discuss History of Well-Known Berlin Synagogue
Barry Jackisch (Department of History), the Philip Markowicz Endowed Professor in Judaism and Jewish Biblical Studies, discussed Berlin’s New Synagogue during the Philip Markowicz Annual Lecture in Judaism and Jewish Biblical Studies in April.
The Blade (April 17, 2025) UToledo Shakes It up With Musical Shakespeare Show
Matt Foss (Department of Theatre and Film) and Rebecca Monteleone (Disability Studies Program) discussed a partnership to include community actors with disabilities in a new adaptation of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
The Blade (April 10, 2025) TMA Hosts Exhibition of Trailblazing Flower Painter Rachel Ruysch
Thor Mednick (Department of Art) discussed the skill and impact of 17th and 18th century Dutch painter Rachel Ruysch, whose work is featured in a special exhibition that runs through July 17 at the Toledo Museum of Art.
The Blade (April 5, 2025) The Name Game: Craft Beers Find Route to Community
Neil Reid (Department of Geography and Planning), who studies the craft brewing industry, discussed how brewery names have become more creative.
Advocate (April 4, 2025) Senate Republicans are Trying to Tie Democrat Jon Ossoff to Anti-Trans Smear
Jami Taylor (Department of Political Science and Public Administration) discussed how some Republican campaigners continue to use transgender rights as a wedge issue.
See previous media appearances on our website.
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