Film & Media Ar ts Donation p. 12
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Cleveland State University College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
SPRING 2020
C L A S S V i k i n g s p p . 6 – 11
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Letter from the Dean The spring 2020 semester certainly turned out to be one of the more interesting ones any of us has ever experienced. While we were all aware of the toll the novel coronavirus was taking overseas, it seemed far removed from us early in the academic semester as we continued with our daily tasks in the college. Little did we know that within an extremely short period of time, we would become, as I’ve called it, “At-Home CSU.” I have been extremely impressed with the ways in which everyone, from all sectors of the university, have chipped in to make this transition workable. Our faculty, who had to figure out ways to deliver the content from their in-class courses, have stepped up in an impressive manner. Having experience in teaching online courses, I know only too well how big an ask this was. Delivering content online is a wholly different experience from doing so live, in person, in a classroom. Having to revise syllabi and then figure out how to pull off teaching the last six weeks of the semester in an online format takes, as we have become fond of saying, a Herculean effort. It’s also true that an impressive amount of thinking outside the box and creativity have been demonstrated in this effort. It seems most of our students also worked hard to make this adjustment. Most transitioned admirably to the ‘needs must’ circumstance we found ourselves in. Those students who are not drawn to, or fond of, the online environment are doing their level best to cope. In consequence of the Governor’s stay-at-home order, students have lost employment, have had to work out how to study at home successfully, and for some, to struggle with illness in their family. Our faculty are mindful of these struggles and are taking a kinder, gentler approach toward all their students. In keeping with this approach, the University has agreed to allow students to choose to be graded pass/fail instead of a letter grade, so long as there are no accreditation or regulatory requiring a letter grade. This practice is being adopted nation-wide and is meant to relieve some of the stress our students and faculty are experiencing. Many of us have come to greatly appreciate the software program, Zoom, since it allows us to ‘be together’ via live video meetings. Even if a meeting looks a bit like a larger version of the opening to The Brady Bunch, it has proved invaluable. While we all enjoy the benefits email has brought to us, it has its limitations when it comes to communication. Nothing can replace face-to-face interactions and Zoom provides a fairly decent facsimile. Faculty, staff, and students are all getting a crash course in the successful use of this, and other, technology. Again, it’s impressive to see everyone figuring it out, making it work. Sadly, we were forced to cancel all of the many events and performances everyone had been spending time organizing, practicing for, etc. While we did so with a heavy heart, we all recognized the importance of acting responsibly, doing our part to insure the health and safety of ourselves, and most importantly, that of our vulnerable friends and neighbors. We all look forward to getting back to campus and taking up our usual way of doing things. In the meanwhile, we will continue to adapt in order to maintain the services needed to help all of our students realize their educational mission.
Allyson Robichaud
Interim Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
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Table of Contents
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Table of Contents ................... 1
Keeping Up With CLASS ................... 2
Student-led Public Mural Project ................... 3
Fall 2019 CLASS Scholars ................... 4
Scholarships ................... 5
CLASS Vikings ................... 6 – 11 $1 Million Donation ................... 12 & 13 CLASS Philanthropy ................. 14 – 16 CLASS Alumni Updates ................. 17
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Visit us online at class.csuohio.edu Published by College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences (CLASS) 2121 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44115 216.687.3660 class.csuohio.edu
CLASS Deans Dr. Allyson Robichaud, Interim Dean Dr. Robert Shelton, Interim Associate Dean Dr. Wendy Regoeczi, Interim Associate Dean
Staff Lesley Lang, Designer & Assistant Editor Jody Milkie, Editor
Contributors Samantha Baskind Mark B. Cole Brenda Driscoll Melanie Gagich Connie Karapelou Phil Wanyerka
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Keeping Up With CLASS
DONATING THEIR TIME The Department of Theatre and Dance staff did not hesitate when it came to donating their time during this pandemic. Costume Shop Supervisor Terri Pieritz has been sewing reusable masks, and Technical Director Cameron Michalak has been 3D-printing face shields and masks to help combat shortages in medical supplies needed to protect health care providers.
Keeping Up With
CLAS S Retirements Faculty Michael Rand, Associate Professor School of Film & Media Arts May 2020
Gregory Sadlek, Professor and former CLASS Dean Department of English June 2020
Staff Floyetine Roberts, Secretary 1 School of Social Work November 2019
Sherri Robertson, Administrative Coordinator Department of History November 2019
Yolanda Sullins, Administrative Secretary 1 CLASS Dean’s Office November 2019
Robert Thurmer, Director The Galleries at CSU November 2019
Job Changes Staff Valerie Temple School of Film & Media Arts Administrative Coordinator to Odyssey Program Coordinator
Deborah Troupe Health and Human Performance (College of Education and Human Services) Administrative Coordinator to School of Social Work Administrative Coordinator
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CLASS Students
Department of Art & Design
STUDENT-LED PUBLIC MURAL PROJECT SEEKS TO ENHANCE CAMPUS LIFE Rachel Jablonski, an honors student and third-year double major in French and international business at Cleveland State University, was intrigued when she saw the announcement for CSU’s One Thing campaign in the fall of 2018. The effort, created by new university president Harlan Sands, asked students, faculty, and staff to provide answers to the question: what one thing can we do to make CSU better? Jablonski, who has long had an interest in public art, decided to create a proposal for a mural that could beautify campus and help bring all members of the community closer together. “I actually did my high school thesis on the importance of public art as a component of community development, and was surprised when I arrived at CSU that there was not a lot of art around campus,” she says. “When I saw the announcement for the One Thing campaign, I thought a public mural would be a great way to make the University a bit more beautiful.” President Sands responded enthusiastically to Jablonski’s proposal and connected her with campus resources to help turn the idea into reality. Allyson Robichaud, interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and Elizabeth Lehfeldt, dean of the Mandel Honors College, worked with her to develop the project, get the necessary approvals and find a location for the mural. The Campus Activities Board and CSU Student Life also helped Jablonski get the word out to fellow
students to assist with developing a design and then creating the actual piece in a group painting that occurred in the Student Center last month. Jablonski said, “It was amazing to see the enthusiasm for the project from so many people on campus,” adds. “This truly was a group effort and could not have been completed without the help of everyone involved.” Dean Lehfeldt noted, “It was a true pleasure to work with Rachel and her fellow students to put this together. It is my hope this will inspire other students to advocate for the changes they would like to see on campus. It really is possible to make a difference.” The completed mural depicts the Cuyahoga River and the Cleveland skyline with CSU in the center. It also includes icons that exemplify Cleveland State and its connection to the broader community as well as a sunrise that highlights the revival of the city and CSU’s role in that renaissance. “We wanted to create a piece that would instill pride in Cleveland and highlight CSU’s role in making the city great,” Jablonski says. The mural is to be hung on the Science Research Building, facing East 24th Street and Fenn Tower. The framing was designed to allow new murals to be created by students, in the future.
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CLASS Scholars | Summer and Fall 2019
Fall 2019 CLASS VALEDICTORIAN
ERNEST OLEKSY Majors: Criminology, Sociology, and Psychology Minors: Biology and Statistics Ernest Oleksy was the valedictorian for the University, for the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Honors College, and for the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.
Summer and Fall 2019 CLASS SCHOLARS Rachel Acevedo Major: Social Work
Rochel Adler
Major: Political Science Ernest Oleksy, Fall 2019 CLASS, and University Valedictorian
Jen Alexander Major: English
Charles Andrews Major: Philosophy
Philipp Corfman Major: History Minor: Political Science
Jeremy Harper Major: Studio Art Minor: Psychology
Sheena Jones
Major: Social Work
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Amber Rawlinson Major: Social Work Minor: Psychology
Bryan Robinson Major: Film, Television & Interactive Media
Maranda Santoya Major: Social Work Minor: Psychology
Selena Thomas Raquel Vega
Karen Miller
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Major: English
Elizabeth Lucas Major: Film, Television & Interactive Media
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Kathleen Piggford
Majors: Comparative Religion and Psychology
Henry Meaney
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Major: Anthropology Minor: Native American Studies
Major: Criminology
Major: English Integrated Language Arts
Right: Allyson Robichaud Interim Dean, CLASS; Center: Ernest Oleksy, CLASS Valedictorian with other CLASS Scholars
Sarah Parker
Rachel Nin
Majors: Economics and Mathematics
Majors: Music Therapy and Psychology
Madelyn Voltz
Major: Theatre Arts Acting Minor: English
Sara Williams Major: Music Therapy
CLASS Students College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
SCHOLARSHIPS Scholarships have a tremendous impact on our students. The financial assistance often allows them to stay in school and complete their degrees. It also helps them balance their work, school, and family responsibilities. In essence, scholarship support is often a game-changer and its impact can be a life-changer. Although the annual Scholarship Stewardship Luncheon was could not happen due to the pandemic, we want to share the sentiments expressed by a few of our grateful CLASS students.
ANGELA XAYAVONG
EMILYANN MOENICH
MICHAEL CALABRIS
LAMAR J. MCCORNELL
Recipient of the Ageleke and Lee Zapis Film & Media Arts Endowed Scholarship Fund
Recipient of the Richard A. and Jayne Z. Janus Endowed Scholarship Fund
Recipient of the Leonard and Joan Terr Ronis Memorial Scholarship
“Thank you for your generosity and support! This scholarship not only helps me financially but also means that my hard work at Cleveland State is paying off. I am so grateful for the support I have received!”
“Thank you so much for the Leonard and Joan Terr Ronis Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship has been crucial in helping me afford to study for my Master of Music degree in Organ Performance. As a person with a disability, finding appropriate work can be incredibly difficult. I was fortunate to be able to find work as a church organist. The opportunity to study with Todd Wilson was an enormous honor to me. My studies at CSU have helped me further develop my skills as a musician and thus has been crucial for my career success.”
Recipient of the Miriam Elson Borchert & Frank R. Borchert Sr. Endowed Scholarship
“I am very grateful for this scholarship because it shows that my hard work is being acknowledged, and it motivates me to work even harder. With this scholarship, I am able to concentrate more on my education without worrying about the financial setbacks at home. I am thankful that someone believes in my hard work.”
“I am truly grateful for the scholarship that you have given to me. My main goal when I started at CSU was to be able to succeed academically. Without scholarship patrons willing to support education, students such as myself would be unable to pursue their education. This scholarship means so much to me!”
DOUGLAS M. TURRINGTON Graduated December ’19
Recipient of the Crossing the Finish Line Returning Adult Endowed Scholarship and the Jana V. Stone Endowed Scholarship “This scholarship meant the world to my family and me. I’m graduating at the age of 32, and I can’t begin to tell you how difficult the last couple of years have been on us financially, but we made it, and a large chunk of that is from extremely generous donors like yourself.”
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CLASS Vikings Parents and Virtues: An Analysis of Moral Development and Parental Virtue By Sonya Charles Although individual parents face different issues, Sonya Charles believes most parents want their children to be good people who are happy in their adult lives. Parents and Virtues: An Analysis of Moral Development and Parental Virtue starts from the question of how parents can raise their child to be a moral and flourishing person. At first glance, readers might think this question is better left to psychologists rather than philosophers. The author proposes that Aristotle’s ethical theory (known as virtue theory) has much to say on this issue. Aristotle asks how we become moral people and how that relates to leading a good life. In other words, his motivating questions are very similar to the goals parents have for their children. The first part of this book details what the basic components of Aristotle’s theory can tell us about the project of parenting. In the second part, the focus shifts to consider some issues that present potential moral dilemmas for parents and discuss whether there are specific virtues we may want to use to guide parental actions. Parents and Virtues will be of particular value to scholars and students who work on the ethics of parenthood, virtue theory, and bioethics. Overview by Lexington Books.
About the author:
Sonya Charles is an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Comparative Religion at Cleveland State. Her main research areas are reproductive ethics, autonomy, and the ethics of parenthood.
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Conversations in Bioethics Conversations in Bioethics with Dr. Toni Nicoletti is a podcast created through the Department of Philosophy and Comparative Religion, in connection with the Center for eLearning at Cleveland State University (CSU). This podcast features interviews with department colleagues, hospital ethicists, and other professionals working in the field of bioethics.
Current episodes include an interview with Dr. Paul Ford, Director of Bioethics at the Cleveland Clinic, about the role of clinical ethics consultation in the Cleveland Clinic healthcare system. Dr. Joseph Demarco, Professor Emeritus in Philosophy at CSU; and Mr. Sam Lipuma, Associate Professor at Cuyahoga Community College, about their new book, The Dying Experience: Expanding Options for Dying and Suffering Patients. There is also an interview with Dr. Allyson Robichaud, Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at CSU, about the current legal and moral landscape of physician aided death and euthanasia. Upcoming episodes feature interviews with several other bioethicists at the Cleveland Clinic on transplant ethics and moral distress. An interview with Dr. Sonya Charles, Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Comparative Religion at CSU, about her new book, Parents and Virtues: An Analysis of Moral Development and Parental Virtue. You can read more on Dr. Charles book on page 6 in this issue of The Innerlink newsletter. Dr. Toni Nicoletti is an instructor in the Department of Philosophy and Comparative Religion at Cleveland State University. An expert in bioethics and the ethics of health, Nicoletti recently created a podcast to increase understanding of these important topics and how they impact communities.
CLASS Vikings Samantha Baskind, Professor of Art History, has been selected as a 2020 Research Fellow by the National Endowment for the Humanities. One of the highest awards that humanities scholars can receive, the prestigious fellowship provides funds for scholars to undertake year-long, comprehensive studies on areas of cultural and artistic significance. In this year’s highly competitive funding cycle, NEH only funded eight percent of the fellowships proposals that it received. Baskind received the only individual fellowship in the state of Ohio. Dr. Baskind will conduct the first book-length scholarly assessment of Moses Jacob Ezekiel, a noted nineteenth-century sculptor best known for creating the 25-foot tall monument Religious Liberty in Philadelphia, beside Independence Mall, and the Confederate Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.
Department of Art & Design
SAMANTHA BASKIND NAMED NEH FELLOW Noted art historian will conduct study on the life and work of Moses Jacob Ezekiel
“I would like to thank the NEH for this tremendous opportunity,” Baskind says. “I am thrilled to have my work included among the prominent individuals who have been selected over the years.” Baskind is an internationally-recognized expert in modern Jewish art and culture with a particular focus on examining how the works of American Jewish artists have been impacted by their dual identities. Through her study of Ezekiel, she will seek to reconstruct his body of work, explore the influence of his Jewish identity on his art, and more broadly, to investigate the country’s effort to memorialize the Confederacy, through art, in the years after the Civil War. Baskind will also assess how Ezekiel’s ideas and art continue to impact modern society, particularly through the ongoing controversy over removing Confederate monuments from public places. Baskind notes, “In his day, Ezekiel’s art was acclaimed around the western world but now he is critically neglected. The reasons why he has been forgotten to history are complicated. He was a devout ‘Southerner’ who served with the Confederate army during the Civil War and became a friend and confidant of Robert E. Lee.” She adds, “Unfortunately, Ezekiel’s influence on both American art and his push to celebrate the ‘Old South’ have not been properly examined or fully acknowledged by modern scholars. It is my hope this study can expand understanding of his important role in American art history as well as provide insights that could inform current debates over how we memorialize the past.” This is Baskind’s second year-long NEH research fellowship and she is the only CSU faculty member to ever receive the award twice. Her first award, for academic year 2009-10, supported her critically acclaimed book, Jewish Artists and the Bible in Twentieth-Century America. Dr. Baskind has published over 100 articles and reviews in encyclopedias, academic journals, museum catalogues, and the popular press. In addition to the National Endowment for the Humanities, her work has been funded by, among other sources, the American Council of Learned Societies, HadassahBrandeis Institute, Harry Ransom Center, and Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture. She served as editor for U.S. art for the 22-volume revised edition of the Encyclopaedia Judaica and is currently series editor of Dimyonot: Jews and the Cultural Imagination, a series of books published by Penn State University Press. Her sixth book, The Warsaw Ghetto in American Art and Culture, came out in 2018.
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CLASS Vikings
Department of History
ANNUAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE EVENT On January 28, 2020, Cleveland State’s Cultural Crossings and Department of History co-sponsored the fifth annual Holocaust Remembrance Event. This event was established and organized by Dr. Mark B. Cole, Department of History, to coincide each spring semester with his course, The Holocaust: Origins, History, and Memory. The Holocaust Remembrance featured a public lecture—“Muslims and the Holocaust: Hope, Rescue, and Reconciliation”—by Dr. Mehnaz Afridi, an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Manhattan College and the Director of its Holocaust, Genocide & Interfaith Education Center. Dr. Afridi is a Pakistani-born observant Muslim, raised in Dubai, educated in South Africa, and now teaching Islam and the Holocaust at a Catholic liberal arts college. Afridi's fascinating lecture stemmed from personal experiences as well as her academic research. For her, the Holocaust, or Shoah ("destruction" in Hebrew) as she prefers to call it, was a singular event that must be studied and commemorated, not merely to record history as it happened, but because empathy for the "Other" breeds tolerance and understanding. Apathy and ignorance, on the contrary, are the paving stones of hatred. Her lecture focused on the complicated relationship her co-religionists have with the Shoah. The first part of her talk focused on the relatively unknown history of Muslims who found themselves under fascist occupation during WWII in North Africa, whether it was by Mussolini's Italy, Nazi Germany, or Vichy France. Many in the room expressed surprise upon hearing about the concentration camps that existed in Algeria, Morocco, Libya, and Tunisia. In that situation, it was all too easy for Muslims to become bystanders or enablers when North African Jews were targeted. But she also noted that although few in number, Muslims died
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in the gas chambers at Auschwitz and elsewhere too. Other Muslims, from the King of Morocco, to ordinary folks across North Africa and the Balkans, acted selflessly to save several thousand Jewish lives during the Holocaust. Albania, a Muslimmajority country, for example, saved nearly all 2000 members of its Jewish community. The second part of Afridi’s lecture castigated extant Holocaust denial and antisemitism that is deeply entrenched in certain corners of the global Muslim community. Such views, often politically motivated by the Israel-Palestine conflict, are essentially un-Islamic by her reckoning, and do harm by dehumanizing the victims of the past in an attempt to de-legitimize Zionism in the present. At a moment when Jewish-Muslim relations are strained at best, building a bridge to reconciliation, according to Afridi, must be undergirded by interfaith dialogue, mutual respect, and historical literacy from those on all sides. Anyone who missed this event, or wants to delve deeper into the topic, can easily do so through Dr. Afridi’s most recent book, Shoah Through Muslim Eyes.
CLASS Vikings
CSU Anthropology Students: L-R: Kealsi Fanter, Sarah Parker, and Danielle Cooke along with Indiana Bones!
With more than 80 people in attendance, the program began with an illustrated lecture by Dr. Wanyerka entitled Where the Earth Meets the Sky: Recent Archaeological Investigations at the Fort Hill Earthwork Complex. Wanyerka has been conducting archaeological investigations for the past three years at the only known prehistoric earthwork complex located in the Rocky River Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks. His investigations, as part of CSU annual archaeological field school program, have made some remarkable discoveries revealing that the earthwork was first constructed around 356 BC by an Early Woodland culture known as the Adena. Other discoveries discussed featured possible ritual and astronomical uses for the earthwork itself as well as plans using geophysical methods for exploring different areas of the site.
Department of Criminology, Anthropology, and Sociology
THE SIXTH ANNUAL OHIO ARCHAEOLOGY SYMPOSIUM This past November, Cleveland State University (CSU) hosted the Sixth Annual Ohio Archaeology Symposium. Dr. Phil Wanyerka—Senior College Lecturer in the Department of Criminology, Anthropology, and Sociology at CSU—started the symposium back in 2013 as a way of highlighting CSU’s archaeology program as well as the archaeology scene in northeast Ohio. These annual symposiums are free and bring local archaeologists from around the Greater Cleveland area together for an afternoon for lively discussions and presentations on their recent archaeological discoveries. This year’s symposium featured two CSU faculty members and one student presenter.
The second lecture of the day was by CSU anthropology major and now recent graduate, Michael Dodrill. His lecture was entitled Archaeological Investigations along the Lower Lake Trail, Richfield Heritage Preserve, Summit County, Ohio. Michael was the lead teaching assistant and project cartographer for the summer field school as well as a recipient of an Undergraduate Summer Research Award. His talk featured CSU’s archaeological investigations of the Lower Lake Trail, a 30,000 square meter area of the Richfield Heritage Preserve, located in Summit County. Michael chronicled this past summer’s excavations, which were aimed at exploring, surveying, and inventorying this section of the 3336-acre preserve to better understand and define both the history and prehistory of the park. The cultural material artifacts recovered by CSU will be used to assist the park in their continued assessment and interpretation of the archaeological and cultural resources located within this park. Finally, the last lecture of the day was presented by Peter Dunham, Associate Professor in the Department of Criminology, Anthropology, and Sociology at CSU. Dr. Dunham’s talk entitled Imagery and Identity: The Archaeology of a Costa Rican Banknote highlighted his recent research on how archaeological imagery was used to help reinforce the indigenous foundations of Costa Rican national identity. This lavishly illustrated talk focused on the extraordinary odyssey of a beautiful pottery vessel that is featured on the front of a banknote, from its original discovery in the 1930s, through its disappearance in the antiquities market in the 1950s, to its eventual reemergence at the University of Maine’s Hudson Museum.
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CLASS Vikings Timeless Vision: Earth, Sea and Sky The Galleries at Cleveland State University presented Timeless Vision: Earth, Sea and Sky in the spring 2020 semester. The exhibition celebrated the sublime beauty of the landscape and examines the various ways in which the eight artists perceive the wonders of the world and give us a sense of our place in the universe. The show opened on Friday, January 31, with a free reception, and was to run through Saturday, April 11 but had to close early due to Ohio’s stay-at-home order. The exhibition featured work of local artists Valence Davillier, Michael Greenwald, A.D. Peters, Annie Peters, John Sargent III and Richard Vaux, as well as Thomas Pickarski from New York and Alan Paine Radebaugh from Albuquerque. “The talented people participating in this exhibition include local, regional and internationally recognized artists working in the genre of the landscape. Their unique styles, materials and methods capture the beauty of the natural world,” notes Kendall Christian, assistant director of the Galleries at CSU. “We are very pleased to be able to bring all of these artists together for an examination of the landscape and how it impacts and drives human existence.” To further enhance the impact of its exhibitions for students and the community, the Galleries at CSU started a new Thursday Night Art Talk series. Presented weekly through March 16, the series featured presentations by the artists and experts who explore the natural world and its inherent beauty as represented in the artwork. Presenters included Joe Hannibal, geologist and paleontologist with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and Kevin R. E. Greenwood, curator of Asian Art for the Allen Memorial Art Museum at Oberlin College. For more information on The Galleries at CSU exhibitions, please visit class.csuohio.edu/art-gallery/.
Left: Joe Hannibal, Right: Richard Vaux
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THE DIGITAL CSU STUDENT SHOWCASE at Cleveland State University Digital CSU is an interdisciplinary group of faculty, librarians, institutional technologists, and staff interested in digital research, pedagogy, and content creation. The group began in 2016 and continues to grow and hold a variety of events each year. Digital CSU provides opportunities for interdisciplinary conversations about digital methods, tools, and practices. In addition to offering events for faculty and staff, Digital CSU, in partnership with the Michael Schwartz Library, hosts a student research showcase at the end of each semester to promote the importance of digital literacy, acknowledge the digital work our students produce, and offer a space for students to engage with the CSU community. The Digital CSU Student Showcase began as a small poster session facilitated by Dr. Shelley Rose (cofounder of Digital CSU) in 2016. In the years that followed, the showcase provided opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students from across campus to share their digital projects. Essentially, the Digital CSU Showcase is a digital poster session held, most recently, in the Atrium of Berkman Hall, on the Tuesday prior to the last week of class. Students register for a half-hour time slot and present their digital projects. The showcase is a low-stakes, conversational environment in which students get to talk with faculty, staff, and other students about their digital work. The fall 2019 showcase was the largest yet with 41 students registering and attending the event. The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences was wellrepresented with students presenting projects from First-Year Writing, English, History, Communication, Film, and Art, as well as work done for the Center for Public History and Digital Humanities. The College of Education and Human Services was also represented. Students have presented impressive digital
CLASS Vikings projects demonstrating their hard work and digital literacy skills. Past projects have included a website focused on helping hi school teachers integrate multimodal literacy practices into the classroom, a digital timeline tracing the life of Saint Augustine, a podcast discussing Jean Donovan (an American Missionary), an interactive lesson plan for high school English Language Arts teachers, and a video promoting a local Cleveland business. Providing students with opportunities to practice digital literacy skills via creating digital texts (e.g. websites, podcasts, videos, infographics, digital posters, etc.) has been shown to motivate and engage students (Bohannon, 2015; Powell et al., 2014). Offering them opportunities to then share that work with a public audience is also a best practice of project-based learning and provides students with real-life experiences that promote engaged learning (Buck Institute for Education). If you are an instructor who asks students to produce any type of digital text, then your students can share that work at the showcase! If you are a student who has produced digital projects outside of school, you are also more than welcome to participate in the event! Although the spring 2020 Digital CSU Showcase was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students and faculty can look forward to presenting at and/or attending the Showcase at the end of the fall 2020 semester. As faculty and students transition to emergency remote teaching and learning, instructors might consider assigning digital projects which students can present in our upcoming Fall 2020 showcase. There will be limited space at the event (36 seats), so registration is required and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Student participants should be prepared to share their projects digitally and are encouraged to provide supplemental materials such as handouts about their design process, research methods, or other relevant documents; however, this is not required. If you have questions about the Digital CSU Showcase or if you want to get involved, please do not hesitate to reach out to one of the Digital CSU Co-Conveners (Melanie Gagich, Ben Richards, Dr. Molly Buckley, or Cigdem Slankard).
Memorial Tribute Concert to
HENRY J. GOODMAN The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences is pleased to recognize the David and Inez Myers Foundation for their support of the Henry J. Goodman Family Concert. On March 8, pianist Jeffrey Siegel performed a free family concert for the young and young at heart. The concert was a memorial tribute to community leader and activist, Henry J. Goodman, who also served as Past Chairman, Board of Trustees, Cleveland State University and founder of the Kulas Series of Keyboard Conversations® at CSU. Mr. Siegel’s special program highlighted Gershwin’s delightful “I Got Rhythm,” Copland’s humorous “Cat and the Mouse” and Chopin’s “Cat Waltz.” The audience also heard variations on Mozart’s “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” Beethoven’s “Für Elise,” Manuel de Falla’s fiery “Ritual Fire Dance,” and Debussy’s “Golliwogg’s Cake Walk.” In usual fashion of Keyboard Conversations® the audience following the concert to talk about the music and ask questions. A wonderful time was had by all.
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CLASS Alumni
L to R: President Harlan M. Sands, Lee Zapis, Ageleke Zapis, Trevor O. Jones, Trustee, Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation, Pamela M. Eichenauer, Grants Manager, Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation, David H. Gunning II, Chairman of the CSU Board of Trustees
CSU ANNOUNCES
$1 MILLION DONATION
for School of Film & Media Arts Transformative gift will upgrade production facilities and create summer film camp 12
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CLASS Alumni Cleveland State University’s School of Film & Media Arts has quickly become a regional hub for film education and training, while greatly enhancing the growing local movie and television production industry. The School will be able to take the next step in its development thanks to a transformative gift from Lee and Ageleke Zapis and The Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation. The combined $1 million donation will support an upgrade and expansion of the School’s production facilities on the sixth floor of the Idea Center in Playhouse Square, along with the creation of the Odyssey Program, a summer film camp for area youth designed to introduce them to careers in the industry. On January 16, President Harlan Sands, along with members of the Cleveland State University community and city officials, gathered at the School of Film & Media Arts to congratulate the School and thank both of these donors for their generosity. “The tremendous generosity of the Zapises and the Smith Foundation will allow us to further develop our state of the art film labs, production facilities and classrooms, while helping to inspire our next generation of filmmakers and creators,” says Harlan Sands, President of Cleveland State University. “I want to personally thank them for their commitment to CSU, to arts education and to our community as a whole.” The Odyssey program will launch with an online summer camp in 2020 and move to an in-person camp starting in 2021. This program will immerse participants in film and media arts, providing instruction from practitioners in the field with the opportunity to create an original film as part of the experience. In 2021, the 3 week-long camp will also allow high school students from across the region to stay overnight in CSU dormitories, experience campus life, and explore the city of Cleveland. The first camp will be held online starting in July and will start with a cohort of 20 students and move to 60 students beginning in 2021. “We know that the Odyssey Program will have a positive impact on aspiring storytellers,” says Lee Zapis. “Stories shape cultures, and the ability to tell stories via film and media arts is what will continue to impact our cultures in the years to come,” adds Ageleke Zapis. The capital grant from the Smith Foundation will name The Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation Studio and will support the start of the third phase of renovations for the Film School’s facility in the Idea Center®, which will be highlighted by the development of a 75-seat Screening Room. The Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Studio is a 2000 square foot sound stage with
fiber connections to a control room that allow it to be used as a single camera, “film style,” or a multi-camera, “broadcast style,” production facility. “The Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation is proud to support CSU’s School of Film & Media Arts,” says Ellen Mavec, the Foundation’s president and chair. “Education has been a pillar of our philanthropy and we look forward to the impact the Studio will have on CSU students interested in film and media opportunities, a new field in which we hope Cleveland will become a destination.” The School of Film & Media Arts opened in 2018 thanks to a $7.5 million appropriation from the state of Ohio, and is the only stand-alone film school in Ohio. The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and its School of Film & Media Arts are grateful to Lee and Ageleke Zapis and The Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation. This $1 million transformational gift will enable the School of Film & Media Arts to continue offering innovative, experience-based instruction in directing, screenwriting, cinematography, acting and digital media, and takes advantage of numerous industry and community partnerships to provide a wide variety of opportunities for students to work on current film, TV and digital productions.
THE ODYSSEY PROGRAM AT CSU Cleveland State University School of Film & Media Arts Odyssey Program is an immersive summer film camp for students ages: 13-14, 15-16, 17-18. Create films with the students and faculty of the School of Film & Media Arts! Learn acting, directing, cinematography, editing, producing, and screenwriting as you create your own original films! For more information on this summer program, please visit csuohio.edu/odyssey/.
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CLASS Philanthropy CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR WINNERS!
ANNUAL
THEATRE AND DANCE PERFORMANCE TICKETS Noon pull for (2) tickets each The Real Inspector Hound
February 27 – March 8, Outcalt Theatre, Playhouse Square
• Faculty and Staff: Michelle Knapik • Alumni and/or Friend: Han Liou
5 pm pull for (2) tickets each CSU’s Spring Dance Concert 2020*
April 3 and 4, Allen Theatre Mainstage, Playhouse Square
• Faculty and Staff: Teresa Pieritz • Alumni and/or Friend: Joseph Bianchini
Midnight pull for (2) tickets each Blood at the Root* April 16 – 26, Helen Rosenfeld Lewis Bialosky Lab, Playhouse Square
• Faculty and Staff: Victoria Winbush • Alumni and/or Friend: Laura Kelly
First 15 donor T-Shirt Winners
1. Teresa Pieritz 2. Robert Brazina 3. Kristina Martens 4. Mark Lantz 5. Michelle Knapik 6. Tim Yanda 7. Wendy Regoeczi 8. Derrick Hopperton 9. Victoria Winbush 10. Ritika Giju 11. Michael Dover 12. Amy Tankersley 13. Anonymous 14. and 15. Ellen and Joseph Carreras
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED MAKE OUR GIVING DAY SUCH A SUCCESS! *These performances ended up being cancelled due to the shelter-in-place order.
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2.12.2020 GIVING DAY WAS A HUGE SUCCESS Cleveland State University’s seventh-annual Giving Day, held on Tuesday, February 12, raised more than $460,000 from over 2,500 donors, setting new records in both giving and donor totals. The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences raised $5,410 from 42 donors for scholarships and the annual fund. The 24-hour campaign to raise support for student success is part of a growing trend nationwide of engaging University constituents in digital philanthropy. “I want to personally thank all of the individuals who contributed to this tremendous showing of Viking Pride,” said Harlan Sands, president of Cleveland State University. “The money raised will directly support current and future students in reaching their academic and career goals.” The fundraising initiative used a crowdfunding platform combined with email marketing and a robust social media presence. Prizes and incentives rewarded “Social Ambassadors” who used tools on the CSU Giving Day website to promote the initiative online and raise funds through their social networks. In the seven-year history of Giving Day, support for the University has increased by at least 50% each year, with this year’s performance vastly outpacing last year’s effort. For CLASS Giving Day participants, two Theatre and Dance tickets were given to a lucky faculty/staff member and alumnus who gave between 8 am and noon, noon until 5 pm, and 5 pm to midnight, while the first 15 donors received a CLASS T-shirt.
CLASS Philanthropy
THE
"Nikki Forever" SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences is pleased to honor the memory of esteemed alumna, Nikki Delamotte, with the establishment of The Nikki Delamotte “Nikki Forever” Scholarship Fund.
Nikki Delamotte graduated from Cleveland State University (CSU) in 2011 with a BA in Communication. Always curious about the world around her, she became a highly respected and recognized journalist within the Northeast Ohio community. Nikki had covered Cleveland's cultural scene for several websites and publications, most recently Cleveland.com, and authored the book 100 Things to Do in Cleveland Before You Die. In November of 2018, her life was tragically cut short. Among the many honors and awards that were established in her name, Nikki's mother JoAnne Ullman, with guidance from Nikki’s friends, established the “Nikki Forever” scholarship fund to create a lasting tribute to Nikki—to her energy, her passion and her talents— as well as to inspire current and future CSU students to succeed. JoAnne stated, “Nikki loved Cleveland and CSU. This scholarship is a way that Nikki can spread that love with people who need help and will take full advantage of the opportunity with spirit.” The “Nikki Forever” scholarship is open to undergraduate and graduate students majoring in any discipline within the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. As part of their application, students must prepare a 500-word essay discussing how and why curiosity and an open mind changed their perspective for the better. Regarding this essay criteria, JoAnne said, “Nikki’s natural curiosity and her love of everything creative are evident in everything she wrote. She had a unique ability to ask challenging questions in her gentle way, which put people at ease to share their stories.” Camilya Williams is one of the first students to receive the scholarship. Camilya is a nontraditional student majoring in Social Work and Black Studies, a member of organizations including NASW-Student Club and the Black Student Union, and an initiate of Phi Sigma Phi Honors Fraternity. In expressing her gratitude for this scholarship, Camilya said, “Words can never express what this scholarship means to me. My lifelong dream of education is being achieved due to the help from you.” She also added, “I am a first-generation student finishing my bachelor's degree with plans to continue on to graduate school. By doing so, I can continue to be a source of strength for those who feel powerless, a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves and a pillar of hope in my community.” Cleveland State University and the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences are incredibly grateful to honor Nikki Delamotte’s memory, both as a prominent alumna and as a significant journalist, writer and beloved friend to so many in the Northeast Ohio community. Dr. Allyson Robichaud, CLASS Interim Dean, notes: “We are indebted to JoAnne’s generosity, especially during such a difficult time, and will remain partners in honoring Nikki’s legacy through this scholarship.” Should you wish to help carry on Nikki’s legacy and make a donation to this scholarship fund, please visit csuohio.edu/giving or contact Constance Karapelou, Director of Advancement, at c.karapelou@csuohio.edu or 216-875-9838.
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CLASS Philanthropy
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John A. Lonsak STUDENT FILM PRODUCTION FUND
The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences is pleased to announce the establishment of The John A. Lonsak Student Film Production Fund. This new endowment fund was created to support production costs on film projects for students in the School of Film & Media Arts.
The Student Film Production Fund was established in the spring of 2019. Funding will become available in the fall of 2020 to full-time students in junior/senior year, with preference given to BFA thesis projects. There is a competitive process to receive project funds as applicants must submit a complete description of the funding need as it relates to storytelling, a script, production plans, and a detailed project budget. All applications must have a faculty letter of endorsement. Recipients are selected by a committee involving Frederic Lahey, Director of the School of Film & Media Arts, and Dr. Allyson Robichaud, Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. John Lonsak graduated from Cleveland State University in 1968 with a BA in Social Work, after which he earned his Master of Library Science from Case Western Reserve University. His passion for libraries began when his mother would regularly take him to story hours at the Eastman branch of the Cleveland Public Library. He began his library career in 1968 at the Cuyahoga County Public Library as a Young Adult Intern. He held numerous positions throughout his career at the library and was appointed Executive Director in 1996, a position he held until his retirement in 2003. In January 2004, he became the Executive Director of the Rocky River Public Library and served there until his final retirement in 2010. John was a long-time member of many civic and community organizations, including the American Library Association. During his many decades of service, he was honored with the Director Award by the Ohio Library Council and was named the Librarian of the Year for his development of a universal library card to increase the ease with which the public could access library materials. John’s continued interest in and passion for education, and film, is what inspired him to create this endowment in support of CSU’s School of Film & Media Arts. He stated, “When I learned Cleveland State University would be instituting a School of Film & Media Arts, I was eager to support it. A film school is a welcome addition to a great university and Cleveland, which opens a wealth of opportunities for individuals working in the film industry. I’ve been a film lover most of my life; I commend all who worked to make this a worthwhile adventure.” Prior to creating this endowment, Mr. Lonsak also created an annual scholarship (2015-2019), which benefitted students majoring in history. Cleveland State University and the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences are grateful to him for his generosity in support of our students. Dr. Allyson Robichaud, CLASS Interim Dean, stated: “John’s gift is a wonderful thing. Such support will help to enlarge our students’ experiences as budding filmmakers.”
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CLASS Alumni Updates
CLASS Alumni Updates Richard Koloda (’96 MMus, ’98 JD Law) retired from the CSU Michael Schwartz Library in 2011. He had an acting role in a music video, contributor credits in a movie for Swedish television and in several books, and wrote a biography of jazz artist Albert Ayler. Kenneth F. Cooper (‘74 BA Communication) is the author of The Challenge, an autobiography that explores the difference between Jews and Christians. Joseph Salem (’74 BBA, ’98 BA English) was named Dean of the University Libraries at Michigan State University (MSU). He joined the MSU Libraries in August 2018 as director and librarian. Lee Zapis (’78 BA Communication) is the author of Change is in the Air – How WZAK Became #1 in Cleveland. The book chronicles the evolution of WZAK-FM from an ethnic radio station in the 1960s to one of the most popular urban radio stations in the 1980s. Zapis’ parents, Xen and Lula, were the original owners of WZAK. Linda Lehmann Masek (’83 MA History) had her 14th book published. A Return to the Land of Kitty Tails, a sequel to her fifth book Kitty Tails & Horses Hooves, which includes her illustrations. Catherine Lynch (’84 BA Art) retired after 30 years of teaching art in Holmes County. She continues to teach art to youngsters at the Holmes Center for the Arts. Peter Nelson (’91 BA Economics) was named Business Person of the Year by the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce. The lifelong Lakewood, Ohio resident, is vice president of retail banking at Dollar Bank. Endre Szentkiralyi (’91 BA English) has taught English and German at Nordonia High School for 21 years. His third book, Being Hungarian in Cleveland: Maintaining Language, Culture, and Identity, was recently published.
Terry Allcorn (’94 MA Spanish) was named president of Kentucky Christian University (KCU). He graduated from KCU in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in Christian ministry. Toi Comer (’96 BA Political Science) was named to Crain’s Cleveland Business’ 2019 Women of Note list. She is the vice president and executive director of City Year Cleveland. Shannon Ketvertes (’98 BA Communication) was named director of communications for Lorain-Medina Rural Electric and North Central Electric. Gretchen Schuler (’98 MA History) is vice president for insurance risk management at Invacare. Christopher Viland (’99 BA Philosophy, ’04 JD Law) stepped down as chief of police in Solon to become the city of Cleveland’s first police inspector general. Carrie Walsh-Hilf (’00 BA Dramatic Arts, ’18 MEd Education) lives and works as a middle school teacher in Euclid. She is also the artistic director of UpStage Players, a children’s theatre company celebrating its 25th year. Andrew Pegman (’02 MA English), an associate professor of English at Cuyahoga Community College, won a second-place award in the fishing category in the Outdoor Writers Association of America annual Excellence in Craft contest. He took the prize for “A Tale of Two Trips” published in American Angler. Maria Scalish (’02 BA Communication), chief executive officer, and Frank Scalish (’04 BBA Business Administration), president, are the owners of Lakewoodbased Scalish Construction, which specializes in preservation and restoration projects.
Anthony Coleman (’04 BA Communication) is a franchise owner of CarePatrol, a senior care placement organization. Ryan Aroney (’07 BA Communication) moved from marketing and engagement director to president and chief executive officer of United Way of Greater Lorain County. Mamta Roy (’09 MA English, ’15 PhD in Urban Education) joined the College of Education of Guru Kashi University in India as Dean. Nicholas Camino (’12 BA Journalism and Promotional Communication) moved from WTAM 1100 to join WKYC Channel 3 in Cleveland as the station’s main sports anchor on the weekends and reporter during the week. Kristen Mott (’13 BA Journalism and Promotional Communication) was named communications and marketing coordinator at Villa Angela/St. Joseph High School in Cleveland, Ohio. Scott Ruebensaal (’13 BA History, ’16 JD Law) was named to Crain’s Cleveland Business’ 20 in Their 20s list. He is an associate in the real estate division at Jones Day. Ian Ward (’14 BA Sociology, ’15 MA Sociology) joined Continental Products as purchasing and materials manager. Janey Schafer (’15 BA Communication) was chosen by Cleveland Magazine as one of Cleveland’s Most Interesting People in 2020. Janey is a food photographer, recipe master, and blogger who has a following of more than 110,000 on her Instagram® account @foodsofjane.
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Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID
Cleveland, OH Permit No. 500
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences 2121 Euclid Avenue, RT 1822 Cleveland, OH 44115-2214
With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Cleveland State has implemented the recommendations of health officials and Ohio Governor DeWine’s office and has suspended all face-to-face instruction and shifted classes to remote delivery. In addition, with the “stay at home” order, all non-essential staff and faculty are working remotely, and spring activities have been cancelled (Women’s Leadership Symposium and the annual Scholarship Stewardship Luncheon) or postponed (Radiance and Graduation). For those of us who enjoy these annual celebrations, there is disappointment. However, we completely understand the concerns for the health and safety of our CSU family and the benefit of social distancing. We look forward to being together when this crisis has passed. Until then, stay safe!
CANCELLATIONS & POSTPONEMENTS DUE TO CORONAVIRUS DONATE The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences continues to be grateful for the support of our alumni, friends, and donors. If you would like to support the students at CSU, please consider donating to Lift Up Vikes at csuohio.edu/liftupvikes/donate or contact Constance Karapelou, Director of Advancement, at 216-875-9838 or c.karapelou@csuohio.edu.
