UToledo CAL eNewsletter

CAL News and Events

April 2024 – Issue 33

NEXT ISSUE: May 2024

NEW CAL DEAN SELECTED AFTER NATIONAL SEARCH

Photo of Dr. Melissa Gregory, Dean of the UToledo College of Arts and Letters

Dr. Melissa Gregory, New Dean

Dr. Melissa Gregory, who has served as interim dean of the College of Arts and Letters since February 2022, has been selected following a national search to continue to lead the college as its permanent dean.

MICHAEL BOYD, PROFESSOR OF PIANO TO RETIRE

UToledo professor of piano, Dr. Michael Boyd

Distinguished University Professor Michael Boyd (Department of Music) will be retiring at the end of this semester after 36 years with UToledo. He will also celebrate his farewell with a piano concert Sunday, April 21.

Boyd has had a number of noteworthy achievements during his tenure. He is a named Steinway Artist and last fall was inducted into the Steinway Music Teacher Hall of Fame. He is also a successful recording artist who has performed nationally and internationally.

On behalf of the Department of Music, he spearheaded two major fundraising efforts. The Dorothy MaKenzie Price Piano Series, named for its benefactress, is funded into perpetuity thanks to an endowment Boyd helped secure. He was also a major player in the Steinway Initiative fundraising effort which led to the University being named an All Steinway School. That designation means our music students and faculty practice and perform on premier Steinway instruments.

But perhaps his greatest legacy is that of his students, many of whom have gone onto exceptional performance and teaching careers of their own. A few examples include Juan Montoya (M.M. 2009) who is a pianist and composer, as well as resident conductor of Kuala Lamour City Opera. Carlos Betancur (M.M. 2003) is professor of piano at Universidad de Antioquia. Olga Rua (M.M. 2006) is a piano instructor at Cincinnati Music Academy. Current graduate music student, Gabriel Hagedorn (B.M. 2022), is the central director of music at Cedar Creek Church.

ART STUDENT EXHIBITIONS

Generational Echoes image Abstract image of Black people sharing a meal

Student in the Art Department Perception exhibit hangs a work in the show

Graphic with text about the 2024 BFA Thesis Exhibit

“Generational Echoes: Privilege, Power, and the Transmission of Knowledge,” an exhibit curated by art students at The University of Toledo, opened at the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) April 6 which runs through July 6. There will be a public reception Friday, April 12 from 5-8 p.m. in the UToledo Center for the Visual Arts (CVA).

The exhibit explores interpretations and representations of knowledge in visual art, as well as the ways that societies share and protect what they have learned. It features 19 works that students selected from the permanent collection of the Toledo Museum of Art, working with museum staff and University faculty through two consecutive art history classes that began in the fall and a studio course this semester.

Meanwhile, students in the advanced photography class are showcasing their work in the Clement Gallery on the lower level of the Center for the Visual Arts. The exhibit titled "Perception: Work by Advanced Photo Students" runs now through May 31. Students in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program will present their work in the main gallery April 8 through May 31, with a public reception April 26.

2024 HISTORY DEPARTMENT RESEARCH COLLOQUIUM

Student presenting research during 2024 UToledo History Research Colloquium

The Department of History held its annual research colloquium on March 22. Nineteen students from The University of Toledo, Kent State, and Bowling Green State University presented historical research papers on panels moderated by History faculty.

Jenna Pittman, a history and education double major, has accepted an offer from Duke University's highly competitive graduate history program for a Ph.D. She received a package of 6 years guaranteed funding, plus additional summer research funds. She plans to study modern European history. She recently completed a history honors thesis on Western rock and roll in East Germany. Her thesis was based on research sponsored by a UToledo undergraduate research grant, one of only three presented.

WGST STUDENTS ATTEND THE NATIONAL YOUNG FEMINIST LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

UToledo Women's and Gender Studies Students at conference - Sunshine McHugh (WGST major), Shreya Bhoopathi (Dual major Biology and WGST), Nora Swerbinsky (WGST major, Communication minor), Tahiya Wyman (WGST minor), Shakayla Waters (Social Work major, WGST minor), and Mahaska Stiegler.

The Department of Women’s and Gender Studies (WGST) sent 5 students to the Feminist Majority Foundation's annual National Young Feminist Leadership Conference in Washington, DC. in March. Tahiya Wyman, who is pursuing a minor in WGST, presented on a panel about activism, describing her experiences campaigning for Issue 1 in the last Ohio election. Department chair, Sharon Barnes said, "We are very excited and proud of her."

Students pictured are: Sunshine McHugh (WGST major), Shreya Bhoopathi (Dual major Biology and WGST), Nora Swerbinsky (WGST major, Communication minor), Tahiya Wyman (WGST minor), Shakayla Waters (Social Work major, WGST minor), and Mahaska Stiegler (History major).

DAY OF GIVING 2024 - CAL RESULTS!

118 DONORS / $41,774

UToledo mascots Rocky and Rocksy pose with thank you signs

On March 20 and 21, UToledo held its annual Rocket Forward Day of Giving! I would like to say thank you to all the alumni, friends, faculty, and staff for sharing the campaign, making a contribution, and for your efforts to make this campaign a success. Your support creates scholarship opportunities for students, enhances programs, and so much more. This year, The College of Arts and Letters had 118 donors who contributed $41,774 to our college programs and funds for the University’s Day of Giving campaign. See University-wide results video.

It is with great appreciation that we recognize and thank you for your support. You are fueling tomorrow!

Best wishes,

Abbey Hall

Assistant Director of Annual Giving

University of Toledo Foundation

UPCOMING EVENTS

See all these events and more on the CAL Calendar! It is available online at utoledo.edu/al/calendar. Please bookmark it! If you have a CAL 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.

THURSDAY

APR. 11

PLAY: "NEIGHBORHOOD 3: REQUISITION OF DOOM"

By Jennifer Haley

Performance Dates: 4/11-14, and 4/18-21

Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.

Sundays at 2 p.m.

Tickets Required

FRIDAY

APR.12

FILM/DISCUSSION: "KRZYSZTOF WODICZKO: THE ART OF UN-WAR"

4 p.m.

Toledo Lucas County Public Library, Main Branch, McMaster Center

FRIDAY

APR.12

ART EXHIBIT RECEPTION

"Generational Echoes"

5 - 8 p.m.

Center for the Visual Arts and Toledo Museum of Art, Gallery 6

SATURDAY

APR. 13

BARBARA RONDELLI PERRY SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION FOR SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN VOCAL PERFORMANCE

2 p.m.

Center for performing Arts, Recital Hall

MONDAY

APR. 15

UTOLEDO JAZZ ENSEMBLE CONCERT

7 p.m.

Center for Performing Arts, Recital Hall

WEDNESDAY

APR. 17

UTOLEDO CLARINET ENSEMBLE CONCERT

7 p.m.

Center for Performing Arts, Recital Hall

WED-THURS

APR. 17-18

EDWARD SHAPIRO SHOWCASE OF STUDENT WRITING

April 17-18, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Carlson Library, Room 1005

SUNDAY

APR. 21

DISTINGUISHED UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR, DR. MICHAEL BOYD IN CONCERT

3 p.m.

Center for Performing Arts, Recital Hall

WEDNESDAY

APR. 24

UTOLEDO SYMPHONIC BANDS CONCERT

7 p.m.

University Hall, Doermann Theatre

THURSDAY

APR. 25

THE AUDITION: AN ORIGINAL PLAY BY ACTORS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

6 p.m.

center for Performing Arts, Center Theatre

THURSDAY

APR. 25

UTOLEDO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT

7 p.m.

University Hall, Doermann Theatre

FRIDAY

APR. 26

BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS (BFA) THESIS EXHIBITION - OPENING RECEPTION

5-7 p.m.

Center for the Visual Arts, Main Gallery

SATURDAY

APR. 27

UTOLEDO COMMUNITY CHORAL CONCERT

with Clarence Smith Community Chorus

6 p.m.

Monroe Street United Methodist Church

PARKING

A visitor parking permit is required to park on campus for most events. Check event details. Visit parkutoledo.com to purchase a parking permit.

MORE EVENTS

CAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

PUBLISHING AND CREATIVE WORK

Deborah Orloff (Department of Art) has work in the following internationally competitive exhibitions: the "Rotterdam Photo Festival" in Rotterdam, Netherlands;

"Blurred Visions" in the Millepiani Exhibition Space, Rome, Italy; and "Wonder" in the Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Ami Pflugrad-Jackisch (Department of History) presented her research about eighteenth-century Virginia plantation owner Mary Willing Byrd at the “Revolutionary Women” symposium at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. (March)

Eric Zeigler (Department of Art) recently had photographic work on display in two important exhibitions: "Upside Down" at PH21 Gallery in Budapest, Hungary (Feb 10-March 5); and at the "Mid-America College Art Association Member’s Exhibition" (March). Currently, his photography is showing at the "10th Annual International Open Call Exhibition" at the Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts in Providence, RI (March 21–April 12). This exhibit was juried by Karen Haas, Lane Senior Curator of Photographs at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Zeigler also collaborated with Ecologist Aaron M. Ellison. Their work is on display in the following exhibitions: "Field Guide" at the Intersect Art Center in St. Louis, MO (Feb. 6–June 29); "Second Time Around" at the Jamestown Arts Center in Jamestown, RI (March 22–June 8); and at the "42nd National Juried Exhibition" in Larson Gallery at Yakima Valley College (March 9–April 20). This exhibition was juried by Thomas Harris.

Zeigler also presented the work he created with Ellison. "The Anthropocene, As Seen By Any Other Species was presented at the Mid-America College Art Association Conference. (March)

Barry Jackisch (Department of History) delivered the Philip Markowicz Annual Lecture in Judaism and Jewish Biblical Studies, “Teaching With Tolerance In a Time of Hate: Jewish Private Schools in Nazi Berlin, 1933-1939.” (March)

CONGRATULATIONS

Ashley Pryor (Philosophy and Religious Studies Program) has been selected for a media fellowship in podcasting by the Marc Sanders Foundation. The Foundation's Philosophy in Media Initiative aims to increase the presence of philosophy in print, audio, and video media by training philosophers to write and produce for the public and by connecting philosophers to editors and commissioners in the media industry.

Gregory J. Meyer (Department of Psychology) received a lifetime achievent award. The Bruno Klopfer Award is bestowed annually for outstanding, long-term professional contribution to scholarship in the field of personality assessment. The award honors a lifetime of active and impactful research related to personality assessment and psychological test development.

Paulette Kilmer (Department of Communication), who has tirelessly spearheaded the Banned Books Vigil each fall at The University of Toledo, will be retiring this semester. A celebration of her 27 years of teaching with UToledo will be held April 18. Contact the Department of Communication for details, commdept@utoledo.edu.

For a complete list of recent CAL news and achievements, visit our website.

MEDIA APPEARANCES

The Ohio Newsroom: Ohio Faith Leaders Go Beyond the Pulpit to Fight Gun Violence

Angela Siner (Africana Studies Program) discusses the history of Black churches advocating for social change.

Mature Living: Lecture Series Explores Medical, Philosophical and Religious Views of Death

The next event in an ongoing lecture series featuring UToledo scholars from multiple academic disciplines. John Sarnecki (Philosophy and Religious Studies Program) is one of the speakers for the first lecture.

The Monroe News: Help NASA Study Weather Changes During Solar Eclipse at Monroe County Museum

Kevin Czajkowski (Department of Geography and Planning) will lead a presentation Wednesday, March 27, on how local citizen-scientists can help NASA study weather changes during the April 8 solar eclipse.

WTOL 11: Big Races in Ohio for November Election

Sam Nelson (Department of Political Science and Public Administration) explains why the races for both Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat and the 9th Congressional District are going to be national priorities for both parties.

WTOL 11: Why Ohio Senate Race Will be Watched Closely

Sam Nelson (Department of Political Science and Public Administration) discusses the opportunity and challenge for Republicans hoping to pick up a U.S. Senate seat in Ohio.

WTOL 11: Why Ohio Isn’t a Battleground State in 2024

Sam Nelson (Department of Political Science and Public Administration) explains why Ohio is no longer seen as the bellwether state it once was.

WTOL 11: UToledo Researchers Talk Scientific Importance of Total Solar Eclipse

Michael Cushing (Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Ritter Planetarium) and Kevin Czajkowski (Department of Geography and Planning) discuss what to expect during the April 8 total solar eclipse.

WTOL 11: Teaching With Tolerance

Barry Jackisch (Department of History) spoke about Jewish private schools that existed in Nazi Berlin until the outbreak of World War II during the Philip Markowicz Annual Lecture in Judaism and Jewish Biblical Studies.

Poem Of The Week

Jim Ferris (Disability Studies Program) had poetry featured on this poetry website in March.

American Craft Beer: Living Close to Craft Breweries Good for Housing Values

Neil Reid (Department of Geography and Planning) discusses his research that found values of condos and single-family homes rose after a brewery opened within a half-mile.

For more faculty media appearances, visit our website.

UTOLEDO COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS