Today's Update: Friday, February 17, 2023
February 17, 2023
Dear Student Life team,
I want to start today’s message by acknowledging the pain that the tragic loss of life at Michigan State University has caused. We are devastated by this senseless violence. I reached out to Ohio State students from Michigan this week to check in on them and offer any support they might need. Counseling and Consultation Service, along with the Dean of Students team, also offered a space this week for students to come together to process, comfort and support one another. I am grateful to Micky Sharma, Harry Warner, Dan Hausman, Dave Isaacs, Chrisse Edmunds, Danny Glassmann, Jeff Pelletier and Stacy Smith for helping support our students in this difficult time.
High Five to Re’Nesha Weston, who started this week as the director of the Student Wellness Center. Welcome aboard!
Jeremy Gabis and Thyrone Henderson get High Fives for coordinating and leading a tour of Lincoln and Morrill Towers (the River Towers Community!) for a very special guest. Telling the stories of our facilities is critical, and their work went a long way in helping to share the important work that happens behind the walls.
High Five to Dave DeAngelo, who has earned the gratitude of Special Olympics Ohio for all the support he gives the organization, including the planning and preparation of their recent Columbus Polar Plunge fundraiser.
Rob Halliburton in the Student Life sign shop gets a High Five, nominated by another department that says, “He takes the time to make sure every sign meets university standards – ensuring everyone is able to locate rooms across the Student Life footprint. Signs include floor signage to individual rooms and bathroom signage. Rob’s work is very meticulous and detail oriented as he creates the signage by hand, even down to the Braille! Great work Rob!”
High Fives to Jasmine Stephenson and Ana Berrios in Buckeye Careers who recently presented career planning and job search strategies workshops to students in Arts and Sciences and received rave reviews for their content and beautiful presentation styles. Our partner said they are “amazing” and “pros!”
Dr. Ana Berrios gets a double High Five (High Ten?) this week for also recently facilitating an excellent professional development session for the Buckeye Careers team on Motivational Interviewing.
High Five to Kellie Uhrig, given the 2023 Pace Setters Executive Award by the Fisher College of Business. It’s their highest honor, recognizing outstanding leadership and service. Fisher says, “(you) demonstrate a commitment to excellence in all that you do!”
High Five to Student Health Services. They’ve achieved 100% compliance in the required flu vaccine for their staff. We cannot provide quality healthcare to our students if we are out sick, and the vaccine helps to prevent or shorten time off due to flu!
It’s been another week of #BuckeyeLove, kindness and gratitude. High Five to Tracy Stuck for leading this amazing effort, and ford all the amazing staff who prepped materials, delivered goodies etc. to sow seeds of kindness across campus and our community.
High Fives as well to Kathie Serif for helping coordinate the pizza party at the Culinary Production Kitchen, and Andrew Crow, Daren Lehman, Troy Keller and Bridgett Hildreth for coordinating one for second and third shift housekeepers, and to the Student Life staff at the regionals for pizza parties on their campuses.
High Five to Michelle Rankin for her work on Buckeye Love activations using the Dining Rovers and heart shaped notes tucked in coffee cup sleeves.
We also held Scarlet and Great Gatherings #BuckeyeLove Edition this week. High Fives to everyone who helped out, including Jen Cottrell, Stacy Smith, Travis Barnhart, Aisha Echols, J. Randall Hicks, Stephanie Lingofelter, Noelle Bartley, Christy Muhoberac, Robin Bolterman, Shea Ryan, Peter Hansen and Lindsey Boyd. High Fives as well to everyone who used the occasion to write notes of gratitude to colleagues.
High Fives to our Student Life O-H Thank You squad for traveling around campus to express gratitude to more than 22 individuals and departments. High Fives to Kim Travers, Stephanie Lingofelter, Sean Stewart, Jennifer Nelson, Jenn Miller, Peter Hansen, Tiffany Quattlebaum, Josh Bodnar, Moetiz Samad, J. Randall Hicks, Aisha Echols, Karen Narwicz, Aubrie Smith, Bridgett Keener, Jennifer Chilman, Tracy Stuck and Brandon Horton. High Five as well to Daren Lehman for coordinating transportation and detailing stops.
High Fives to J. Randall Hicks for performing a kindness ukulele song and magic tricks all over campus; to Lindsey Boyd for assisting with the Ohio Union schedule and Stephanne Musser with Rec Sports to coordinate the Nike Student Buckeye Love surprises; to Tiffany Quattlebaum for helping to coordinate a central cookie purchasing process for the Buckeye Love cookies; Stacy Smith, Jen Cottrell and Candyce Williams for assisting with the Skittles appreciation; Adrienne Gladish for dealing with all the Buckeye Love loading dock requests and driving Brutus around to do kindness on campus; the Student Life Marketing and Communications teams for their work behind the scenes for Buckeye Love, especially Rachel Conners who helped University Marketing securing the coffee sleeves; to Shea Ryan and the Rec Sports staff for hosting the “Hug a Coke Machine” activation; to John Cronin, Steve Cihon and Drew Stark for picking up the cookies and delivering Buckeye Love Nike gear; and to all the departments who showed great creativity and Buckeye Love all month.
Have a Scarlet and Great weekend!
Melissa S. Shivers, PhD
Senior Vice President for Student Life
The Ohio State University