Faculty experts roundup

The Ohio Arts Council’s (OAC) Individual Excellence Awards included two OHIO faculty members:

• Crafts: Area Chair and Professor of Ceramics Tom Bartel.
• Visual Arts 2D: Area Chair and Professor of Printmaking Melissa Haviland.

The OAC received nearly 600 applications from artists from across the state. Applicants submitted for their work in crafts, design, interdisciplinary, media arts, photography, visual arts 2D, and visual arts 3D. Each approved artist will receive a $5,000 award.

"Every year, the Individual Excellence Award recipients showcase the exceptional artistic talent across Ohio,” said OAC Executive Director Donna S. Collins. “This year’s awardees demonstrate that artists can build thriving and sustained careers here in the Buckeye State.”

Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology/Musicology Garrett Field presented a Feb. 7 speech for the speaker series at the UCLA Center for India and South Asia. The presentation explored the Arabicate world of the Maldives through the lens of the inventions of Thaana and Ali Didi's poetic genre, two examples of a script and literary form that developed through contact with Arabic.

About the presentation, Field said, “In 1913, a Maldivian Islamic scholar named Maulavi Huiy Ali Didi (1874–1932) drew upon structures in Arabic verse to introduce a new genre of Dhivehi-language poetry called lhen. In his first composition, Ali Didi organized the verses in couplets, and he imbued each line with the rhythmic pattern of long and short syllables found in the rajaz meter of Arabic poetry. Ali Didi’s poetic innovation, however, can be understood as part of a longer Maldivian tradition—nine letters of the Dhivehi script Thaana, in which Ali Didi wrote, were created out of Arabic numerals by an unknown Maldivian scholar in the 1500s or 1600s. In this presentation, I explore the Arabicate world of the Maldives through the lens of the inventions of Thaana and Ali Didi’s poetic genre. Thaana and lhen can be described as ‘Arabicate’ because they are examples of a script and literary form that developed through contact with Arabic.”

Maria Chatzidaki-Livanis, an instructor in the Department of Biological Sciences, was on the research team that published an article in Science titled “A ubiquitous mobile genetic element changes the antagonistic weaponry of a human gut symbiont.”

R.M. Crowell, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, along with Morgan Vis, associate dean of research, faculty and graduate studies, and researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, recently published two articles in the Journal of Phycology: “Population genetics of the freshwater red alga Batrachospermum gelatinosum (Rhodophyta) I: Frequent intragametophytic selfing in a monoicous, haploid–diploid species”; and “Population genetics of the freshwater red alga Batrachospermum gelatinosum (Rhodophyta) II: Phylogeographic analyses reveal spatial genetic structure among and within five major drainage basins in eastern North America.”

Research led by Ohio University Associate Professor of Anthropology Sabrina Curran reveals new evidence of early hominin activity in Europe, suggesting that hominins were present on the continent far earlier than previously thought.

Read more about the research

Distinguished Professor David Drabold and co-authors from the University of Oxford used advanced computer simulations based on quantum mechanics and machine learning to reveal amorphous silicon in “exquisite detail.” The study was published in Nature Communications.

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An article Drabold published in Nature Communications, “Signatures of paracrystallinity in amorphous silicon from machine-learning-driven molecular dynamics,” was recognized by HPCwire Readers’ and Editors’ Choice Awards 2023. Researchers at OHIO, the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford used PSC’s Bridges-2 to run simulations revealing how a coal-like material can be converted to a graphitic form, which is vital for clean energy and other advanced applications, including lithium ion batteries.

The award was announced at SC23, the primary U.S. conference on high performance computation, held in Denver.

“We’re honored that our work on atomistic simulation of the formation of graphite, a key component of lithium-ion batteries, was selected for this award on Energy applications of high performance computing!” Drabold said. “It was very much a team effort involving my graduate students Chinonso Ugwumadu and Rajendra Thapa, as well as faculty collaborators Yahya Al-Majali and Jason Trembly in Mechanical Engineering. We also thank the Department of Energy.”

Classics Professor Fred Drogula was awarded the  Society for Classical Studies (SCS) Excellence in Teaching Award.

Read our profile on Fred Drogula

Don Miles, professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, published a research article in Science entitled “Climate change and the cost-of-living squeeze in desert lizards.” The research group used biophysical models based on data collected from the field over three decades to predict the influence of climate increases on the energy budgets of lizard species in Africa and Australia.

Corinne Nielsen, associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, published a research article in Scientific Reports titled "CNS resident macrophages exhibit region-specific states and immunogenic responses during Rbpj-deficient brain arteriovenous malformation." The article details how specialized glial cells in the brain are pathologically affected during a neurovascular disease. According to the article, these findings "may inform on novel targetable factors and inspire investigations into whether targeting specific cellular properties could offer therapeutic benefit to brain arteriovenous malformation patients, potentially preserving brain tissue and alleviating symptoms."

Chester Pach, professor in the Department of History, was interviewed for a Feb. 6 article in USA Today about Ronald Reagan's legacy. Pach’s book, “The Presidency of Ronald Reagan,” will be published by the University Press of Kansas.

Dr. Tamanna Shah, assistant professor of instruction in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, recently published two edited books, each sponsored by the American Sociological Association (ASA). “Children and Youth as ‘Sites of Resistance’ in Armed Conflict” explores the lived experiences of children and youth in conflict zones, uncovering the different forms of resilience and resistance. Unlike conventional portrayals that confine experiences solely to victimhood, the book addresses themes such as the intersection of women, children, trauma, and memorialization, as well as the critical examination of human rights and children’s rights within the context of armed conflict. The second book, “Children and Youth in Armed Conflict: Responses, Resistance, and Portrayal in Media,” examines issues such as Boko Haram's impact on girls through media representation, social media narratives in the Israel-Palestine conflict, China's portrayal in films, and the analysis of children's art and poetry within conflict zones.

Dr. Matthew Stallard, associate professor of English instruction emeritus in the Department of English, will publish “Paradise Regained: The Biblically Annotated Edition” on April 1. From the publisher: “In an illuminating and scholarly introduction to the poem, Stallard contends that the key question that ties together Paradise Regained and Paradise Lost is ‘who has the right to be called a Son of God?’ By presenting the poem alongside hundreds of Renaissance Biblical notes, Stallard conveys the full breadth of the poem's powerful significance in its historical Puritan context.” 

Luke Pittaway, O’Bleness Professor of Entrepreneurship and associate dean in the College of Business, hosted a U.S. Department of State Science Dialogue event on January 17. Focusing on university research commercialization, Pittaway presented a virtual keynote with the session topic "Fueling Innovation: Ideation as a Catalyst for Technology Commercialization," hosted by Guilford College. 

Professor of Instruction Debra Dunning and Associate Professor of Instruction Teri Peasley recently presented on the experiential learning grant experience at the the National Association for School-University Partnerships (NASUP) conference in New Orleans.

“We were able to serve almost 2,000 students in our local areas to engage in the zoo,” Dunning said. “We are taking this further by exploring the indigenous mounds and creating a documentary.”

Dr. Christine Suniti Bhat, professor in the Department of Counseling and Higher Education, has been selected as an Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW) fellow.

ASGW President Kendra L. Jackson cited Bhat’s “hard work, passion, leadership, service, mentorship, and unwavering dedication to the counseling profession, particularly in the area of group work.”

Read our profile on Bhat

Marcy Keifer Kennedy, director of the OHIO Center for Clinical Practice in Education, was awarded the 2025 Jason Kinsey Award by the National Association for School-University Partnerships (NASUP).
From the awards ceremony: “In her local context, she directs and oversees more than 15 PDS [Professional Development School] partnerships and helps to direct and advise about outreach activities to districts and schools in their partnership network. In her role, she helps to shape and guide where resources are spent, and helps to establish, refine, and evaluate the goals and progress of partnerships in their network. Her ability to navigate partnership spaces, both in their development and sustainment, is extraordinary and inspiring.”

Dr. Chris Kennedy, professor of instruction in the Department of Teacher Education, was awarded Exemplary PK20 Boundary Spanner Award for 2025 by NASUP.

From comments at the awards ceremony: “Dr. Kennedy exemplifies what this recognition embodies through his leadership and impact in his school-university partnership work. Chris is currently the faculty coordinator for the school district where he once worked as a literacy specialist. Although his primary focus as the PDS faculty coordinator is supporting the early field teacher candidates and mentors, he has even taken on the university clinical educator role for the professional interns.”

Dr. Gregory Kessler, professor of innovative learning design and technology, is the 2024-2025 Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Digital Technologies and Sustainability. A globally recognized scholar specializing in the intersection of technology, teaching, learning, culture, and language Kessler was part of a team that developed technology standards for English instructors teaching immigrants in Canada. His Fulbright research focuses on implementing these standards through professional development initiatives and studying their effectiveness.

Dr. Pete Mather, professor in the Department of Counseling and Higher Educationreceived the Gerald L. Saddlemire Mentor Award. especially notable because recipients are rarely faculty members.

Nicholas Stroup, assistant professor of higher education and student affairs, called the honor “especially notable,” pointing out that faculty members are rarely recognized for the award.

“It serves as a testament to how Pete’s mentorship has extended to students, staff, and fellow faculty across his career. His nomination letter brought together the voices of several faculty and dissertation advisees that spoke to his virtues," Stroup said.

Hear Mather interviewed

Dr. Jen Newton, associate professor in the Department of Teacher Education, was one of three lead authors on The Nora Project's Standards For Inclusive Schools, a roadmap for building inclusive schools where all students with and without disabilities are welcomed as their full and authentic selves, respected as integral parts of the community, and empowered to advocate for themselves and others.

On December 12, six doctoral students in the Department of Teacher Education presented virtually at an international conference. The conference, Seminário Internacional de Pesquisa em Educação e Educação Profissional e Tecnológica (translated: the Fourth International Seminar on Research in Education and Professional and Technological Education), was held by the Instituto Federal do Triângulo Mineiro (IFTM) in Uberaba, Brazil.

To participate in the conference, the students prepared abstracts discussing their doctoral research. They presented their abstracts and responded to feedback and questions from session discussants.

The students and abstract titles:

• Sara Alasmari – Equipping early childhood elementary and pre-service teachers to teach mathematics for social justice
• John Essel – Inquiry-based instruction in gateway quantitative reasoning: Perspectives of instructors
• Nayomi Field – Perceiving global competence: Teacher candidates’ reflections on their collaborations with international students for a global education fair
• Subekshya Ghimire – Evaluating teacher preparation and support in government schools of Nepal during the COVID-19 pandemic: Challenges and future implications
• Emily Talley – Access and equity in music education: A rural perspective
• Desa Tobin-Nairn – Teaching and Learning in hospitality and tourism: Perspectives of students and teachers on workforce readiness for industry careers in the Bahamas

Twenty-three individuals were honored by Dean Scott Titsworth and other school directors with an inaugural Scripps College of Communication Learn Pillar Award on Feb. 25 at a faculty and staff gathering in the Schoonover Center for Communication.  Special guests Dr. Wendy Adams and Dr. Melinda Rhodes from the Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment joined the celebration. 

School of Communication Studies

• Professor Angela Hosek
• Professor Candice Thomas-Maddox
• Joe Mihaly, student

J. Warren McClure School of Emerging Communication Technologies

• Jordan Herron, immersive media producer and immersive audio specialist
• Anthony Zoccola, project manager and GRID Lab manager
• Miriam Snavely, student

E.W. Scripps School of Journalism

• Professor Craig Davis
• Professor Elizabeth Hendrickson
• Maxwell Burton, student

School of Media Arts and Studies

• Professor Roger Cooper
• Associate Professor Laeeq Kahn
• Ama Ofori-Birikorang, Ph.D. student

School of Visual Communication

• Assistant Professor Adonis Durado
• Cecelia Roche (student)

OHIO Online

• Lindsey Rose, instructor
• Mary Stephan, student

Dean’s Office

• Karl Federspiel, success advisor
• Andrea Lewis, director of student media
• Chris Stewart, operations manager

WOUB

• Atish Baidya, editor in chief
• David Forster, news assignment editor
• Parker Kopronica, student

Abbey Cliffel, assistant director of undergraduate orientation programs, has been recognized with the Outstanding New Orientation, Transition, and Retention Professional Award at this year’s NODA Annual Conference. This award highlights exceptional contributions and efforts in the field and dedication to advancing the success of students and colleagues in the field.

Professor Geoff Dabelko, a faculty expert on environmental peacebuilding; climate security; environmental leadership and age-friendly, climate resilient communities, was quoted in an AP story on the climate and security dimensions of Greenland on January 7.

Read about Dabelko's climate and aging work