Today's Update: Friday, April 25, 2025
April 25, 2025
Dear Student Life team,
Happy High Five Friday!
We just finished the ceremonial ribbon cutting officially opening the Monda Student Resource Center this afternoon. As I said in an earlier Today’s Update, this is truly the realization of a dream. High Fives to the planning team that orchestrated this afternoon’s event, led by Ryan Lovell and including Jen Vandemark, Marci Shumaker, Samantha Bradway, Aisha Echols, Jeremy Gabis, Jess Romer, Re’Nesha Weston and Seth Rhodes along with the many others who played a role in creating this amazing space to serve our students. Special thanks also goes to alumnus Keith Monda and Veronica Brady for their transformational gift that enabled the creation of the MSRC, as well as to the multi-Buckeye Reid family for their generous support of the Reid Family Career Closet.
There is no higher honor at Ohio State (yes, it even outranks a High Five!) than the university’s Distinguished Staff Award. This year, we are blessed to have two winners on our Student Life team. Massive High Fives to Beth Ullum and Dilna Cama for this Scarlet and Great recognition. The award goes to staff members for their outstanding achievements, service, leadership and dedication to Ohio State. Dilna was also selected for the Presidential Staff Award. Dilna and Beth are certainly worthy and I’m very proud that they are a significant part of Student Life.
Commencement is just around the corner, and I want to High Five several Student Life team members who will be getting degrees. Heidi Aune (Disability Services) and Heather Dwyer (Housing and Residence Education) have both successfully completed their Dissertation in Practice for their EdD in Educational Studies, Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) degree. High Fives, Dr. Aune and Dr. Dwyer!
High Fives as well to Kala Coyan-McClure and Julie Schnell for graduating with their MA’s from the HESA program.
High Five to CFAES Wooster for winning both the “Regional Blood Battle” and the “Most Donations Yearly Award” for the most units of blood donated across all The Ohio State University campuses outside of Columbus. And Manger of Student Life Kelly Kyser reports the best part: it’s their second year in a row for winning both awards.
Julie Sanzone of Housing and Residence Education gets a High Five for being featured in the Student Success Research Labs new Student Success Champion Profile.
Have a Scarlet and Great weekend with a large helping of Go Bucks...especially to everyone whose names are showing up in lights in the NFL Draft throughout the weekend!
Melissa S. Shivers, PhD
Senior Vice President for Student Life
The Ohio State University