About Community Engagement
Mission
The Center for Community Engagement connects students, faculty, staff, and communities (from local to global) to create and maintain mutually beneficial academic, research, and service partnerships that foster resilient communities and life-long engaged citizens.
Vision
Ohio University empowers students, staff, faculty, and alumni to be active citizens, leveraging their strengths to create positive social impact and drive community and economic development, wherever they are. Together with our community partners, we contribute to the vitality of Ohio, the Appalachian region, and beyond.
Key Roles
- Facilitating Engagement
- Providing Resources and Information
- Demonstrating Impact
A Message from the Director
Friends,
Southeast Ohio is a unique region in the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau, at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Among these steep hills dissected by rivers and streams, we are in one the most biodiverse temperate forests in the entire country. Ohio University and all its campuses are a part of this place.
This region has a rich cultural history: SE Ohio was once home to the Shawnee and Ohio Valley native American tribes. The underground railroad was active in this area and Rendville, Ohio had first African American Mayor in the northern U.S. The United Mine Workers formed in this region amid labor strikes, and we have them to thank for having 8-hour work days. The economy has included production of salt, coal, timber and the very bricks that originally built this university and paved the streets.
Due to the nature of the decline of extractive industries, many people in the region experience poverty and subsequent challenges related to that. However, wealth comes in many forms and we boast a strong local food system, green energy development, and tourism based around the arts, local food and spirits, and outdoor recreation. We are surrounded by natural beauty with over a dozen state parks and a national forest at our doorstep.
This region takes supporting our local businesses very seriously and being active in nonprofit organizations or otherwise contributing to a resilient community. Consider how you can be involved. How can your research be community-based? There is a strong entrepreneurial spirit here, so new businesses are always ripe for partnerships, too. I guarantee that regardless of your academic and research interests, there is an entity or group of people here who share your interests and can inform and enrich your studies, your career, and your sense of purpose.
The Center for Community Engagement is working to develop mutually beneficial partnerships between Ohio University and the region, and wherever students go across the globe. I am here to help you connect with the community, to learn from local expertise, and contribute to change in the region and world, so that Ohio University’s legacy is one of authentic and transformative partnership.
Truly,
Mary Nally
Executive Director
Newsletters
The CCE's newsletters are one of the ways we aim to keep people informed on the latest news and upcoming events in and around Ohio University campuses and southeast Ohio.
Community Engagement Committee
The Center's Community Engagement Committee represents all colleges, offices, and campuses to ensure streamlined communication and a strong network to connect students, staff, faculty, and community partners.
- Alden Library: Chris Guder, Head of Learning Services and Subject Librarian for Education
- College of Arts & Sciences, Rachel Terman, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Julia Paxton, Professor of Economics and Undergraduate Chair
- College of Business: Tanya Hire, Associate Professor of Instruction in the School of Accountancy
- Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts: Angela Sprunger, Assistant Professor, Co-Founder of Ohio Valley Center for Collaborative Arts (CoArts)
- College of Health Sciences and Professions: Rebecca Robison-Miller, Senior Director of Community Relations
- Center for Advising, Career and Experiential Learning: Courtney Kessel, Assistant Director for Experiential Design & Holly Seckinger, Executive Director of Employer Engagement
- Division of Student Affairs: Nikki Ohms, Director, Conference Services and Megan Vogel, Chief of Staff, VP of Student Affairs
- Graduate College: Greg Newton, Interim Associate Dean
- Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education: Connie Patterson, Associate Dean for Academic Engagement and Outreach
- Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine: Sherri Oliver, Executive Director, Community Health Programs and Area Health Education Center
- Office of Diversity and Inclusion: Office of Multicultural Success and Retention (OMSAR); Chris Fowler, Associate Director of Critical and Underserved Student Success
- Office of Global Affairs: Cat Cutcher, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Programs
- OHIO Honors College: Doug Orr, Advisor, OHIO Honors Program
- Office of Sustainability: Sam Crowl, Associate Director
- Regional Higher Education: Carissa Anderson, Associate Dean of Regional Higher Education
- Russ College of Engineering and Technology: Paula Linscott, Assistant Dean for Student Services
- Scripps College of Communication: Brian Plow, Associate Professor and Andie Walla, Assistant Professor
- University College: Sara Hartman, Associate Professor
- Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service: Faith Knutsen, Social Enterprise Program Director
- WOUB: Cheri Russo, Community Engagement Manager
- Center for Community Engagement: Mary Nally, Director