Today's Update: High Five Friday

April 24, 2026

Dear Student Life team, 

Happy High Five Friday (and last Friday of the semester)! 

High Five to everyone who supported student health, safety and well-being last week leading up to and during the Spring Game and off-campus activities, including the Off-Campus and Commuter Student Engagement team of Dilna Cama, Rachel DeMooy, Chris Antjas, Rochelle Toth, Jacob Glorioso, Cece Albon, Lauren Stazen, Lindsey Shaw, Jennifer Kephas and the amazing OCCSE student leaders, along with OSUPD, CPD and partners throughout the City of Columbus. High Fives to the Risk and Emergency Management team including Jaylen Lindsey, Stacey Renker, Mindy Clagg, Teri Cugliari and Emma Krawiec. High Fives as well to Dave Isaacs and Dan Hausman from the Student Life team for helping get an important safety message out to students. 

The recent Out of the Darkness Campus Walk was a huge success, highlighted by remarks and participation by Ohio State’s First Lady, Dr. Lalita Kaligotla. High Fives to Suicide Prevention Program leader Laura Lewis, as well the Campus Walk Planning Team of Laura Onianwa, Sacha Cheng, Tomas Guzman, Viktoria Bedalli, Amaya Rakes, Stephanie Grissett, Angie Wellman, Christy Muhoberac, Taylor Youngpeter, Zachary Talstein and  John Prosek; the regional walk coordinators David Miller, Schaad Schaad, Samantha Haudenschield and Leslie Beary; plus the many campus and community partners who tabled and offered hope and healing activities including Sarah Blouch, Nikole Thomas, Abby Hertzfeld, Lori Green, Leslie Hill, Kelly Campbell, Janet Steinbacher, Kareena Mehra, Jaylen Lindsey, Chris Antjas, David Wirt, Harry Warner, Daniela Burnworth, Alison Webster, Roger Perkey, Audrey Evans, Jordyn Sikula, Carly Taylor, Beth Ullum, Adam Specht and Jodie Leister; as well as a special High Five to Ryan Lovell for being one of the speakers.  

I met with the Student Life Alumni Advisory Board last week. I’m always grateful for my time with such an engaged group of alumni who truly care about the student experience. High Fives to those who helped with the effort including Jen Vandemark, Stacy Smith, Travis Barnhart, Khushi Pabboju, Zia Ahmed, Lindsey Boyd, Trinity Patterson, Matthew Swearingen, Julianna Logan, Abby Bempah, Kayla Davis, Cole Grigsby, Dave DeAngelo, Tracy Stuck, Laura Lewis, Leah Fetters, Christina Adams, Adrienne Gladish, Lizaya Motley, Chris Nesler and Robin Bolterman. 

High Fives to Assistant Hall Directors Grace Johnson, Cassidy Kidwell and Sara Cassady who recently handled several incidents that required a high level of care, concern and professionalism.  

I have so much fun doing Doc’s Download-The Podcast Edition, but I certainly can’t do it alone. High Fives to Matthew Swearingen, Stacy Smith, J Randall Hicks, Kierra Hampton, Anita McCoy, Katrina Norris, Julianna Logan, Tracy Stuck, Chris Nesler, Morgan Vibbert, Jaylen Lindsey and Jen Vandemark for all their work this season. I appreciate their creative ideas, identifying guests, working on logistics and showing me new skills. I’m looking forward to Season Three this fall. 

Carter Huber and Lauren Pullins get High Fives for facilitating the Student Life Disability Services Student Panel, titled Student Perspectives: Compliance and Beyond, at the recent 26th annual Multiple Perspectives Conference.  

High Five to Sam Dible, a Disability Services Interpreter/Transcriber, for passing her National Interpreter Certification exam. 

A colleague suggests a High Five to Housing and Residence Education’s Heather Dwyer for her work with non-Columbus campus residential populations. They said, “Heather routinely travels (every week) to our campuses to support students and staff. She invests in each community, learning their unique culture, traditions and needs. Most importantly, Heather is always advocating for the needs of these campuses and students, truly making a difference!” 

Speaking of those regional campuses, High Five to Ohio State Newark Housing Coordinator Shantrice Bradley for handling a week of escalated issues. A colleague says, “Shantrice is a rockstar Housing Coordinator who genuinely cares about students and consistently goes above and beyond to provide whatever support they need!” 

High Five to Ohio State Mansfield Housing Coordinator Sarah Smith and her team for holding a successful drink coaster-making program that brought together residents and staff. And High Five to Wooster-ATI Housing for a fun, and well attended, annual Bull Bash event.  

And last, but certainly not least, it’s the last call for the Ohio State Listening Survey. If you haven’t taken the time yet, the survey closes today!  

Have a Scarlet and Great weekend and as always, Go Bucks (and High Five to all our Buckeyes making it big in the NFL draft!)     

Melissa S. Shivers, PhD
Senior Vice President for Student Life
The Ohio State University