Today's Update: Friday, August 1, 2025
August 1, 2025
Dear Student Life team,
Happy High Five Friday!
I’ll start with a High Five to Dr. Scott Brown, the newly named inaugural Managing Director of the Buckeye Commons. Scott, an Ohio State alum (BA in education) will join us on Sep. 8.
Summer orientation programs are coming to a close, and there a lot of people who deserve High Fives for creating a welcoming and informative experience for new students and their families.
It all starts with the Student Life Orientation Committee, chaired by Matt Couch, which collaborates to make preparations for all the programs. High Fives to committee members Travis Barnhart, Gabi Bockelman, Josh Bodnar, Arianna Camel, Xavier De Freitas, Rachel DeMooy, Aisha Echols, Noah Gilbert, Abby Hertzfeld, Jenn Irwin, Kathy Krajnak, Ryan Lovell, Caitlyn McCandless, Christy Muhoberac, Brooke Olson, Jon Plante, Rahul Ponappa, Aubrie Smith, Adam Specht, Sean Stewart, Ali Talcott, Beth Ullum and Jen Vandemark.
High Fives to all those gave presentations or provided support when Student Life was on center stage, including...
Get Involved presenters Abby Frank, Kirby Bell, Faith Nelson, Brandon Horton, Domonique Dunn, Josh Bensink, Jayden Messer, Akua Nelson and Taylor Koon, along with coordinators Brooke Olson and Katie Conner.
Life Outside the Classroom presenters Jenn Irwin, Kristen Rupert Davis and Matt Couch.
Parent and Family Relations presenters Beth Ullum, Adam Specht and Noah Gilbert.
Commuter student and family session presenters Cece Albon, Jacob Glorioso, Rachel DeMooy and Liam McCarty.
Residential Experience family session presenters Qiana Smith, Barb Kefalas, Alex Smith, Annie Schuster, Frida Gillespie, Heather Dwyer, Katie Duffy, Xavier De Freitas and Eric Jaburek.
Residential Experience student session presenters Morgan Gill, Pasha Sergeev, Natalee Blackford, Avery Ruff, Brianna Langs, Ethan Oldfield and Jennifer Watley.
Housing and Residence Education check-in and tabling staff Cat Singerman, Dani Rodriguez Pacheco, Bea Graves, Ethan Harvill, Quantazia Merchant, Ariel Burns, John McGowan, Kyle Moore, Alex Davis, Hauwa Imran, Shana Parker and Taylor Whittington.
Student Conduct’s Anti-Hazing Essentials presenters Kirby Bell, Kelly Smith, Brett Welsh, Cortney Brewer, Malcolm Bello, Nicholas LaTorre, Abby Richard and Lacey Gosnell.
The teams on our regional campuses have also been working hard all summer to welcome and orient new students. High Fives to Bryan Albright, Amy Livchak, Rachel Richardson, Alyssa Brown and Wendy Hedrick at the Lima Campus; Cynthia Callahan, Kendra Boggs, Kodey Kreglow and David Miller at the Mansfield Campus; Ellen Farrell, Dawn Hockensmith, Carlyn Bower and Leslie Beary at the Marion Campus; Amanda Waser, Tim Goetz, Holly Mason, Charley DePriest, Jeff Storer, Abby Blanchard, Stephanie Rowland, Mackenzie Conley, Katie Reed, Jill Hupp and Mackenna Finley at the Newark Campus; Kelly Kyser, Jordan Roemer and Carri Gerber at CFAES Wooster.
It's not just new first year and domestic students that our Student Life team has been helping to get acclimated. High Fives to those who have helped make transfer student presentations: Brooke Olson, Anna Sullivan Kvam, Matt Couch, Rachel DeMooy, Jacob Glorioso and Cece Albon.
And let’s not forget those who assisted with international student pre-departure orientations: Matt Couch, Ryan Lovell, Adam Specht, Josh Bensink, Rachel DeMooy, Cece Albon, Josh Owen, Bansari Thakkar and I-Shan Yang.
Finally, I want to High Five anyone who checked students in and accommodated them in our residence halls, served a meal, kept one of our spaces clean and safe, staffed a table at the Resource Fair, printed a BuckID, designed, created or edited any of our presentation materials, hosted an open house or overview session, answered a question or showed care in any way to our new students and families. Each and every one of your efforts are very much appreciated!
This weekend is Pelotonia. High Five to everyone who is riding, volunteering or donating!
Have a Scarlet and Great weekend, and always remember, Go Bucks!
Melissa S. Shivers, PhD
Senior Vice President for Student Life
The Ohio State University