The Walter Magazine

A Letter From The Executive Director

Welcome to the Fall 2024 issue of The Walter, where we celebrate a semester of milestones and impactful initiatives that continue to shape the future of our Business Bobcats in the Walter Center for Strategic Leadership.

This fall, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of our Emerging Leaders program, a decade of developing principled-centered, forward-thinking leaders. Over the years, this program has grown, evolving to meet the needs of the next generation of business leaders. We are proud of the accomplishments of the students who have come through this program, and it was exciting to celebrate their successes and the ongoing legacy of Emerging Leaders during this special milestone. Many thanks to Tammy Reynolds and Dr. Hugh Sherman, the co-creators of the program, and to all the donors and directors of the program for making a dream become reality. I cannot wait to see what the next 10 years has in store for our Emerging Leaders program and those who have been and will be part of its success!

We also celebrate and honor a true visionary leader who has supported many areas within the Walter Center, Tony Marino. Tony is an ’85 OU alum who was awarded the Walter Center Legacy Award for his exemplary contributions to the center and specifically the Wandell Leadership Fellows program and Human Resources Certificate. His legacy continues to shape our mission, and we are deeply grateful for his impact on our students and the broader leadership community.

In addition, we were fortunate to welcome author of the book Tell Me My Story, Dimple Dhabalia to the Lancaster Executive Speaker Series, where she shared invaluable insights from her distinguished career and personal journey. At the event we also introduced Dan Squiller, (BSEE., ’79; M.A., ’84) as the new Lancaster Executive Leadership Mentor, a role that promises to further elevate the leadership opportunities available to our students and provide them with unique mentoring experiences. The OU alumni gateway summarized is “enter to grow, leave to serve”, and these individuals truly epitomize service above self.

We also recognized several outstanding students who received the prestigious LEAD pin, symbolizing their commitment to leadership excellence. These students have demonstrated the core values of the Walter Center: integrity, respect, authenticity, curiosity, humility, and service. Their dedication to applying these values in real-world scenarios is inspiring and speaks to the growing influence of our center.

Another exciting development this fall was the introduction of the Leadership Launchpad program, which offers an incredible opportunity for first- and second-year students to begin their leadership journey and to build a strong leadership foundation. It is ideal for students eager to take on their first leadership role or those seeking a foundational understanding of leadership. Many thanks to our Director of Learning & Development, Amy Toth, for her vision, creativity, and curriculum development expertise, along with our partners in the Business Academic Advising & Career Services group – Katie Thomson and Luke Edwards – for making opportunity a reality for many of our students.

Looking Ahead:

Finally, we are very excited to announce a partnership with the Center for International Business Education and will be sponsoring our first Global Consulting Program to the Netherlands May 2025. Twenty-five undergraduate students were selected amongst all applicants to be trailblazers with us on this inaugural journey with a leadership twist. The students will be part of a consulting and culture course Spring semester 2025 and will head to the Netherlands early May for a two-week immersive leadership consulting experience along with a community service outreach event led by Steve Musser, Amy Toth, Theo Muir, and me along with our educational partners at the University of Groningen. We are thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity for our students and look forward to sharing our experience with all of you via our social media platforms.

We will continue to provide exceptional experiential learning opportunities that equip students with the skills and insights needed to lead in the dynamic business world. We remain a place where students don’t just learn leadership—they live it. With the ongoing support of our alumni, donors, and community, we will continue to grow and offer unmatched leadership experiences at Ohio University. On behalf of the students and the Walter Center Leadership Team, I extend a sincere “Thank You” for your continued support for all we do, and hope that you and yours have a wonderful holiday season and Happy New Year!