President Sherman connects with OHIO regional campuses, visiting communities and students throughout the fall
Ohio University President Hugh Sherman visited the five OHIO regional campuses this fall, engaging with the community partners and campuses while reinforcing their significance to OHIO's mission.
Story by Laura Alloway, photos by Rich-Joseph Facun and Ben Siegel | December 9, 2021
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At OHIO Southern, not only did Pres. Sherman visit with WSAZ NewsChannel 3 and tour the studio with electronic media program student interns, but he was also a featured guest for a live interview.
Pres. Sherman interacted with faculty, staff and students, along with members community, in informal - and often lively – conversation, as pictured here at OHIO Lancaster.
WHIZ-TV interviewed Pres. Sherman about both his visit to OHIO Zanesville and the importance of the new Education Resource Center inside the Herrold Hall Library.
Business owners, community leaders, and local officials, including the Mayor of Zanesville Don Mason, pictured here with Pres. Sherman, attended the community forum at OHIO Zanesville.
OHIO Eastern Associate Director of Nursing Matthew Fox led a tour of the new interactive nursing laboratory simulation.
Pres. Sherman and Provost Sayrs toured Ross County Recovery & Outreach Center, led by Assistant Professor of Social Work Stacey Saunders-Adams and Dr. John Gabis, Ross County Recovery & Outreach Center board member. As a long-term community partner, they offer applied learning opportunities for OHIO Chillicothe social work students.
OHIO Eastern nursing students demonstrated an interactive nursing laboratory simulation, showcasing their quick response to a “patient” in distress.
Pres. Sherman engaged with OHIO Chillicothe members of the Student Social Work Association as they volunteered to prepare meals for clients of the Ross County Recovery & Outreach Center.
Students had the opportunity to share a lunch and question and answer session with Pres. Sherman, Provost Sayrs and the leadership team at OHIO Southern.
(L to R) Curt McAllister, president of CP Management Company, Inc. and member of OHIO Chillicothe Coordinating Council; Mike Throne, president and CEO of Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce; and, Megan VanBuskirk, owner, Paper City Coffee attended a forum with Pres. Sherman to offer community perspectives on OHIO Chillicothe.
Over the backdrop of another beautiful fall day, Pres. Sherman met with OHIO Southern community members, engaging about the significance of the Ohio University campuses to their region.
OHIO Eastern’s Fall Fest was the perfect opportunity for Pres. Sherman to mingle with students over lunch and ice cream, as they explored the many ways to get involved on and off campus.
Zanesville City Schools has a long-standing partnership with OHIO Zanesville, employing generations of graduates who now serve as teachers and administrators. Continuing that tradition, OHIO Zanesville intern Jakob McElhaney joined a group of administrators and teachers at Zane Grey Intermediate School – all OHIO alumni - in hosting a visit from Pres. Sherman and Provost Sayrs.
Teri Peasley, OHIO Zanesville early childhood and elementary education program coordinator, and Pres. Sherman cut the ribbon on the new Education Resource Center inside the Herrold Hall Library. Featuring over 1,400 books and other materials, the new center provides a space with resources for education students to use in field experiences, internships and course projects.
Fall is a time to take in the beauty of the Appalachian autumn, with tours down winding roads leading to unknown destinations. For Ohio University President Hugh Sherman, all roads led to the five OHIO regional campuses this fall, engaging with the community partners and campuses while reinforcing their significance to Ohio University’s mission.
"The visits and the many conversations we held with campus stakeholders and community partners underscored the importance of our regional campuses in educating generation after generation of employees and entrepreneurs, public servants and teachers, nurses and healthcare workers, all driving the economic engine of Appalachian Ohio," President Sherman said.
Forums with community members were an important aspect of the president’s campus visits. The community meetings often started with introductions, and, in true proud Bobcat form, Ohio University graduates mentioned their alumni status – many two- or three-time alumni – right off the bat. Discussion topics included expanding academic offerings to meet local workforce needs, the value and importance of the campuses, and the opportunities to enhance engagement and enrollment.
Elizabeth Sayrs, executive vice president and provost, and Nicole Pennington, executive dean of regional higher education and lifelong learning, visited the campuses along with President Sherman and other members of the leadership team.
"Our community partners and stakeholders, many of whom are Ohio University graduates themselves, are the cornerstone of the success of our regional campuses," Pennington said. "We were honored that so many of them took the time to not only meet with President Sherman, but also provide ongoing input and resources to help fulfill our mission of making higher education accessible, meaningful and affordable to citizens of our region."
The five visits also included a student experiential learning component, where President Sherman had an opportunity to observe a community partner and students working together for educational outcomes. The president additionally met with the regional campus students to get feedback about their OHIO experience. Finally, faculty and staff engaged with President Sherman and Provost Sayrs in a question-and-answer session, with time to discuss campus and University topics.