Today's Update: Friday, November 14, 2025
November 14, 2025
Dear Student Life team,
Happy High Five Friday!
High Five to you if you’ve already submitted nominees for our new Student Life team member special awards: Excellence in Leadership; Culture Commitment Champion; Outstanding Campus Partner; and Excellence in Initiative. You still have time. The online nomination form is open until December 15. I wrote about the awards in a Today’s Update a couple weeks ago.
There was a facilities issue in one of our buildings last weekend. High Fives to everyone who stepped up to work through it: Lauren Meng, Paul Wojdacz, Adam Cutright, Chris Wandel, Ben Haycook, Sam Raymond, Tilahun Berihun, Rod Huffman and Alex Cates.
The Buckeye Food Alliance gets a High Five for the winter clothing apparel (coats, gloves, hats, scarves, boots) drive they’ve been running this month for the Reid Family Career Closet in the Monda Student Resource Center.
Speaking of the Monda Student Resource Center, a colleague in another unit heard the recent Doc’s Download: The Podcast Edition that focused on the work of the center and shared it, along with detailed information, with their student employees. She told me, “There certainly are students out there that may not have the courage to talk about their needs to help them succeed on campus. I’m so thankful to have this resource to share out to our student employees who may not be aware of this lifeline for them, a friend or classmate.” High Fives to everyone involved, both in the day-to-day work at the center and those who help get out the word.
High Five to Ellen Farrell, a mental health provider on our Marion campus. After a campus tragedy, she stepped up to care for the students, faculty and staff. Said a colleague, “Ellen’s skill and knowledge helped to navigate the campus community through the pain and sadness of this situation.”
Student Life raised more than $20,000 during this year’s Buckeyes for Charity campaign, and overall, the university topped the $1 million mark in donations to non-profit organizations across Ohio. High Fives to our coordinators, D’Arcy Oaks, Morgan Hammonds and Jen Vandemark, and especially High Five to you if you contributed.
University Catering is Scarlet and Grateful to John Cronin and his staff for going above and beyond to help them. High Five, John.
High Five to Housing and Residence Education’s Dr. Qiana Perrean Smith, the latest USAC Staff in the Spotlight honoree.
Have a Scarlet and Great weekend, and, I’m just Sayin: Go Bucks!
Melissa S. Shivers, PhD
Senior Vice President for Student Life
The Ohio State University