Aspire 2021

ASPIRE

The official magazine of the College of Education and Human Sciences

LEADING OFF DR. JON E. PEDERSEN SHARES VISION AS INAUGURAL DEAN FOR THE NEW COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SCIENCES

ASPIRE

As Dr. Jon E. Pedersen takes the reins of the College of Education and Human Sciences, he shares his vision, values and leadership philosophy (Cover photo by Gary

The students with the dean are (from left and their majors): Caylynn WhiteFrierson (fashion merchandising), Payton David (nutritional sciences), Kayla Canis (child and family services), Connor Casey (nutritional sciences), Ethan Harris (aerospace administration and operations) and Elizabeth Burks

8

Educating Forward

Since the launch of the Educating Forward initiative in October 2020, nearly $3.5 million has been raised to fund student scholarships for future teachers.

14 Opening Minds

Native American communities, storytelling and earth and space curriculum are coming together in an ambitious project made possible through a $3.3 million NASA agreement.

24

Loyal & True

College Hall of Fame inductee Lou Watkins has secured her legacy at OSU and beyond with her career successes and compassionate initiatives.

Dean, College of Education and Human Sciences

Dr. Jon E. Pedersen

College of Education and Human Sciences Marketing and Communications

Christy Lang

Rachel Eng

Katie Lacey

Alyssa White

Editor Dorothy L. Pugh

Designers

Paul V. Fleming

Codee Classen

Photographers

Phil Shockley

Gary Lawson

ASPIRE Magazine

Oklahoma State University College of Education and Human Sciences

106 Nancy Randolph Davis Stillwater, OK 740784033 (405) 744-9805 contact.ehs@okstate.edu education.okstate.edu

ASPIRE magazine is a publication of the Oklahoma State University College of Education and Human Sciences. It provides information on college activities, changes and accomplishments while fostering communication and ties among alumni, family and friends. © Oklahoma State University 2021

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College News & Notes

Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Higher Education Act), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis

WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

From the Dean

Greetings from the College of Education and Human Sciences!

Iam thrilled to join the Cowboy family as the inaugural dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences. I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and friends to ensure our college is the preeminent academic destination for those pursuing careers in education, health, human development, design, aviation and more.

A common theme I hope becomes apparent as you read through the stories included in this year’s issue of Aspire magazine is that people are at the core of all we do. Whether through teaching, research, creative activities, service, outreach or Extension, our passion and our purpose is to enhance and improve the lives of diverse people across their lifespans. You will learn more about this transformational vision and my hopes for the future in the Q&A on the next page.

In what has been a challenging time for education due to the ongoing pandemic, supporters across the state and beyond have come together to raise nearly $3.5 million to fund student scholarships for future teachers as part of the Educating Forward initiative. The stories behind the dollars raised are inspirational and remind us all what it means to give from the heart.

Our science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs are expanding to better serve Native American students thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation and a $3.3 million cooperative agreement with NASA. Establishing and sustaining educational support systems for our underserved and underrepresented populations is a top priority.

Over the summer, we announced Opportunity Orange Scholars, a postsecondary program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program builds on work done by faculty in the Department of Human Development and Family Science and the Institute for Developmental Disabilities and aims to enhance lives and enrich the OSU community.

We are also proud to spotlight several current and former graduate students. Their purposeful work is making a positive impact within their respective academic and professional fields and beyond, and their contributions to research, teaching and service reflect our commitment to the land-grant mission.

This year, we celebrated the lifetime achievements of our own Lou Watkins, who was inducted into the 2021 College of Education and Human Sciences Hall of Fame. In addition to an inspiring teaching career, Watkins served 23 years on the Board of Regents for the OSU A&M system. Her contributions to Oklahoma State and the greater community are remarkable. Enjoy reading about the collective accomplishments within the College of Education and Human Sciences, which are a true reflection of our people, our passion and our purpose.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jon E. Pedersen Dean, College of Education and Human Sciences

PHOTO GARY LAWSON

Transformation A Vision for

DR. JON E. PEDERSEN

Dean, College of Education and Human Sciences

Professor, School of Teaching, Learning and Educational Sciences

University of Nebraska at Lincoln

Ph.D., Science Education — Curriculum and Instruction, 1990

M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction, 1988

B.S., Agriculture-Animal Nutrition, 1982

Certificates

Riley Institute-Furman University’s Diversity Leadership Institute, 2019

Colonial Life Education Leadership Experience, 2018

Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management, 2018

Harvard University’s Management Development Program, 2014

Dr. Jon E. Pedersen

arrived in Stillwater this past summer, brimming with energy and excitement about the future of the new College of Education and Human Sciences that he’s now leading.

Pedersen joined the Cowboy family following five years as dean of the University of South Carolina’s College of Education. He has more than 30 years of experience as a faculty member and administrator, including appointments at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Oklahoma, East Carolina University and the University of ArkansasFayetteville.

As a leader, Pedersen promotes interdisciplinary collaborations and partnerships among universities, schools and communities, leveraging the assets and treasures of higher education institutions with a focus on developing the whole person and transforming communities.

As he began his first academic year as dean, Pedersen sat down with us to share his values, leadership philosophy, what attracted him to Oklahoma State University and his vision for the future.

Dr. Jon Pedersen and wife, Conni.

STORY CHRISTY LANG PHOTOS CEHS AND GARY LAWSON

What are your initial impressions of Stillwater?

My wife, Conni, and I were driving down Sixth Street and almost simultaneously we said, “This feels like home.” And it really does. Broadly speaking, the people — whether it’s our neighbors, people on campus, certainly everyone within the college — have been so warm and welcoming and really made us feel part of the Cowboy family. We certainly don’t take that lightly, and it’s very important to us.

Your roots are in agriculture and education. Can you tell us what led you to become a science teacher and then into higher education?

I’m from a very rural part of eastern Nebraska. I went to a one-room school, graduating at the top (and bottom) of my class. Growing up on a farm, I had that focus on agriculture. went to the University of Nebraska. When I was growing up, it was never a question of whether we’d go to college. My brother, sister and I were first-generation college students. There was also no question about where I would go (to college). I got into agriculture, specifically animal sciences. I love the sciences and all aspects of what I did as an undergraduate — anatomy, physiology, vet med, parasitology.

After graduating, I worked for Land O’Lakes, the company that makes butter, dairy and animal nutrition products, on the animal side in central Nebraska. I soon discovered there was a part of my job that I loved and a part I didn’t like so much. I didn’t like the sales part so much; what I really loved was the teaching. I told my wife, “I really want to go back and be a teacher.” And I did. I ended up teaching chemistry and physics. That’s how I ended up in education, and I have loved every minute of it.

From a teaching perspective, we never know how much we impact our students. It’s the same for many professions, whether it is our clients

or our colleagues. I experienced this as both a teacher and a student. I do have stories of students who came back and told me, “You changed my life.” And there was a professor who did that for me. He was an educational psychology professor. He really encouraged me to go and get a master’s degree and then a Ph.D. He was a great influence for me and my life, personally and professionally.

What drew you to serve and lead as an administrator?

Initially, I never thought I’d be an administrator. The opportunities sought me out. In my first position as an associate dean — I really hadn’t considered it until a number of people came to me and said you ought to apply. So I did. I really enjoy what I do.

I was a teacher because I wanted to impact children and young adults. I realized that I was teaching 100-120 kids a year. If I educate 10 teachers a year, who then teach 120 kids a year, I continue to grow my impact. As an administrator, if I can influence a number of faculty and help shape a direction for a college, then all of those faculty, all of those students we impact across so many different disciplines, then my impact could be even greater.

I’ve always said that I think the best leaders are those who have never said, “I want to be the dean, provost, the president.” What they have said is, “I want to make a difference.”

Why the OSU College of Education and Human Sciences?

Anytime I’ve ever moved somewhere, I have always gone to a place, rather than leaving a place. It’s a collective decision for my wife, Conni, and me, and we have to agree that it is great for us. There’s that personal component and the professional side.

Professionally, I have a firm belief that my life should be dedicated to change. Transforming human lives cannot be done through a singular focus within a discipline. For a child or an adult, my goal is to say, “How do we improve their lived experience?”

When you look at Oklahoma State and the new College of Education and Human Sciences, the breadth of what this college does really covers birth through aging. It’s about early childhood and PK-12 education. It’s nutritional health, mental health and physical health. It’s about improving lives on a daily basis through textiles, the whole realm of merchandising, fashion and interior design. It’s about job creation and preparing professionals like pilots.

That’s why this alignment among these schools and departments, the diversity we have, is so important to me. We are about the human experience. People. Passion. Purpose.

I want to leave my career in a way in which I’ve done everything I can to really change and transform human lives. Here’s a college that is so well aligned. It is expansive, and we can make transformational changes to the human experience.

You mentioned that the diversity of programs in the college is important. How is that diversity a strength?

Nationally, you don’t see institutions or similar colleges pulling together and collaborating the way in which I see this college really stepping up and saying this is what we want. There are programs nationally doing smaller work within isolated communities but they have not taken that opportunity

to look at the totality of the time, talent and treasure within a college to really go out and make that difference.

That’s where this is so exciting. I think we’re on the precipice of this wonderful new world of who we are as a college, a group of professionals working together for the common good of humans. [Our work] makes a difference in people’s lives. It saves lives. It saves families and children. We are changing communities. That gives me goosebumps.

As you think about the path forward, what is your vision?

I see this College of Education and Human Sciences as a leader nationally and internationally. We have that capacity. We have that strength within the knowledge, skills and dispositions. Together, we are unique in our

approaches in addressing the human experience. That puts us on a map for the excellent work we are doing and will continue to do.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

My wife and I like downtime, time at home, sitting on the patio, just relaxing and talking. We’re very much homebodies. We do love to see our daughter when we can and to see family in Nebraska.

I run and do some weight training. I want to be healthy and for me, exercise has a purpose, to train my body for skiing. I love to downhill ski. I started when was about 17. About an hour from my hometown, there is a small ski area called Mount Crescent on the Missouri River and that’s where I learned. I love the mountains and was a ski patroller for a time.

I want to leave my career in a way in which I’ve done everything I can to really change and transform human lives.

DR. JON PEDERSEN — DEAN, COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SCIENCES

Educating Forward $3 million and counting raised to support future teachers

Since the launch of the Educating Forward initiative in October 2020, supporters from across the state and beyond have raised nearly $3.5 million to fund student scholarships for future teachers.

“The overwhelming support we’ve received in a relatively short time emphasizes the value our alumni, donors and friends place on preparing quality educators,” said Dr. Jon Pedersen, dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences. “Now, perhaps more than ever, our community sees the essential role of teachers and the immense impact they have both inside and outside the classroom. Supporting education and future teachers is something we can all rally behind, and this campaign’s success proves that.”

The Educating Forward initiative initially set out to raise a total of $3 million to provide up to $150,000 a year in scholarships to those pursuing a degree in education. To date, $3.44 million has been raised, and the initiative now looks to extend its goal and broaden its impact.

“With the funds we’ve already raised, we will double the current amount of scholarships awarded annually to education majors,” said Dr. Shelbie Witte, head of the School of Teaching, Learning and Educational Sciences within the College of Education and Human Sciences. “The impact that has on our students and their future is substantial. But the work isn’t done, and the need is still great. We’d like to see that scholarship amount go up even more as we continue to raise funds into next spring.”

In addition to the scholarship dollars, one of the most compelling parts of the Educating Forward initiative has been the heartfelt stories behind the gifts.

“Allowing donors to give in honor of someone was very important to us,” Witte said. “We’ve been able to celebrate so many of the influential teachers who have inspired and impacted our lives.”

A few of those stories follow.

DR. GAY WASHINGTON MILLER ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP IN EDUCATION

“Happy anniversary” took on a whole new meaning for Dr. Gay Washington Miller when her husband of 25 years surprised her with news that he had established an endowed scholarship in her honor.

Terry Miller, a former OSU football star and retired NFL running back, put his plan in motion shortly after learning about the Educating Forward initiative. He quickly enlisted former teammates, friends and family who were happy to join the effort and show their support for a woman who truly embodies the heart and soul of the campaign.

A highly regarded lifelong educator, volunteer and advocate for children and education, Gay has served in many capacities, including classroom teacher, principal and assistant superintendent. Most recently, she served the Stillwater community as executive director of the Oklahoma WONDERtorium children’s museum. Gay is also a three-time Oklahoma State graduate, having earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate from OSU.

“Forty years of service goes a long way, and she’s still serving every day,” Terry said. “I’m just happy to be along for the ride.”

Gay was moved to tears when she learned the Dr. Gay Washington Miller Endowed Scholarship in Education will provide financial assistance to education majors, allowing them to pursue their dream of becoming teachers.

“Someone has made a difference in every one of our lives that made us go into education, and I’m beyond grateful this scholarship will be a difference maker for future educators,” Gay said. “It’s truly an honor.”

TARA ELIZABETH PARKS MEMORIAL ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

Tara Elizabeth Parks’ love for OSU and heart for giving lives on through an endowed scholarship fund established by her parents, Dr. Ron and Sharion Austin.

Although Parks only spent a handful of years in the classroom teaching special education, the difference she made in the lives of her students was significant.

“She always came home telling stories about how she had helped her students that day,” her dad said. “Even when she left teaching to manage her husband’s dental office, her heart was still in the classroom and still with those kids.”

Tara died in 2018, and Ron and Sharion established the Tara Elizabeth Parks Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Special Education — the couple’s second endowed scholarship at OSU — so their daughter’s big heart and generous spirit would benefit future generations of teachers.

“After she passed away, there were so many stories of her giving, so many things we didn’t even know about,” Ron said. “And with this scholarship, she’s still giving, and that legacy will be passed down to the four children she left behind.”

Tara

Parks earned her education degree from the University of Central Oklahoma, but having grown up coming to campus for athletic events, OSU always had a special place in her heart.

“It’s important for us to honor Tara at the school she loved, while also honoring the teachers who’ve made a difference in our own lives,” Ron said.

It’s important for us to honor Tara at the school she loved, while also honoring the teachers who’ve made a difference in our own lives.

DR. RON AUSTIN

with her daughter, Katy, and her mom, Sharion.

CLARANNE HAYES ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

In memory of his late wife, Bobby Hayes established the Claranne Hayes Endowed Scholarship in Early Childhood Education, on what would have been her 87th birthday.

Claranne died in 2020 following a 10-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease, leaving behind a loving family and a lasting legacy.

“This scholarship just fits the kind of lady she was — as a teacher, mother and wife,” Bobby said. “This is something she needed and deserved.”

As a military wife, Claranne joined her husband on assignments. She taught elementary school in Lubbock, Texas, and kindergarten and preschool programs at Air Force bases in Alabama, Japan and Hawaii. After retiring from the Air Force in 1975, Bobby and Claranne returned to Miami, Oklahoma, where she taught kindergarten for 20 years, touching the lives of countless children.

“There’s just one word that comes to mind when I think about Claranne — dedication,” Bobby said. “There are no other words.”

Bobby fondly talks about the impact his wife had on their three daughters, including the values and work ethic she instilled in them and the emphasis she placed on education.

Whether through his previous service with the Foundation for Miami Public Schools or his current support of OSU student scholarships, Bobby is an avid education advocate.

“Supporting education is one of the places I’ve spent my time and money best,” Bobby said.

A GIFT IN HONOR OF PAM LUCAS

Desarae Witmer, a longtime educator and current assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and assessment for Yukon Public Schools, used the Educating Forward initiative to pay tribute to a retired teacher who not only had a profound impact on her formative years, but who also helped shape her as a professional.

Teaching fifth- and sixth-grade English and social studies and coaching basketball, Pam Lucas set high expectations for her students and players in Jones, Oklahoma.

“She brought an energy and attitude with her that said, ‘You can do anything with hard work, determination and a strong work ethic,’” Witmer said. “That’s something I still believe to this day.”

Lucas showed genuine care and love for her students, supporting and encouraging them in the classroom and far beyond. Her passion and enthusiasm reflected the faith she had in those she taught, something Witmer tries to emulate.

“I’m starting my 28th year in public education, and I still work hard to reach and demonstrate those basic core values from my middle school years,” she said. “Model and show respect to the education profession. Build relationships by being honest and truthful. Be passionate about the work and put it all on the line each and every day for students.”

LOOKING AHEAD

“This is just a glimpse into the generosity and sincerity behind the gifts we’ve received thus far,” said Dean Pedersen. “We are proud to share our donor stories and hope to inspire others who want to impact student lives through scholarship.”

The Educating Forward initiative will come to an official close in April 2022, but Oklahoma State and the College of Education and Human Sciences remain committed to preparing, supporting and celebrating the next generation of educators.

“We prepare professional educators who lead in the global community and advocate for highquality education for all,” said Dr. Robin Fuxa, director of OSU professional education. “Our goal is to make a transformative impact on schools, people and communities, helping children and youth succeed.”

Those interested in exploring teacher education programs offered in the College of Education and Sciences can visit education.okstate.edu.

Claranne Hayes

Supporting education is one of the places

I’ve spent my time and money best.

BOBBY HAYES, RETIRED, AIR FORCE

The Educating Forward committee

A surprise Zoom call for Dr. Gay Washington Miller included (clockwise from top left) Russ Farthing, Sheri Carter, Mary Ann Grimsley, Jerry Walstad, and Miller and her husband, Terry.

Bryan Close surprised Hailey Adams with a scholarship to cover her student loan debt.

800+

THANK YOU!

Early support from several key donors helped launch the Educating Forward initiative, including:

Randall and Carol White — $1 million lead gift

After 35 years of service as chairman, CEO and president of Educational Development Corporation in Tulsa, Randall is transitioning to active executive chairman. He is a graduate of the Spears School of Business.

The couple’s investment in the Randall and Carol White Reading and Mathematics Center has significantly impacted OSU students and faculty as well as the greater community.

Bryan Close — $500,000 endowment gift

Close is the president of CloseBend Inc. in Tulsa. He established the Bryan Close Teaching Fund, a scholarship that covers student loan debt for a graduating senior.

Dr. Shelbie Witte and Mike Mondoux — estate gift

Dr. Witte is the head of the School of Teaching, Learning and Educational Sciences and her husband, Mike Mondoux, is a U.S. Army retiree and current Arvest Bank manager. Their estate gift was made in honor of their families, which have 20 teachers between the two sides.

Children reached by an elementary teacher during a 30-year career.

5,000+

Students taught by a secondary school teacher during a career.

930

The average starting salary for a teacher in Oklahoma is $36,601, while the average student loan debt for an OSU graduate is $23,790. Like many students, education majors rely on scholarships to help ease the discrepancy between the amount they earn as a teacher and the amount they owe as a college graduate.

You can honor a teacher and invest in the next generation of America’s Brightest Educators. For more information on Educating Forward, please contact Rachel Tribble at 405-385-5625 or rtribble@osugiving.com Or, visit okla.st/EducatingForward

Undergraduates enrolled in OSU teacher education in 2020-2021.

1,899

Alumni have graduated from OSU teacher education since 2013.

EDUCATING FORWARD COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Dr. Pam Brown | Chair, professor emeritus

OSU College of Education and Human Sciences

Dr. Diane Allen | Provost emeritus

Salisbury University, Maryland

Marie Howard | Assistant principal

Capitol Hill High School, Oklahoma City

Terry Slagle | Alumna

OSU Spears School of Business

Dr. Gay Washington Miller | Former executive director

Oklahoma WONDERtorium

Dr. Stacey Butterfield | Superintendent

Jenks Public Schools

Dr. Rick Moore | Executive director

Oklahoma Municipal Contractors Association

Dr. Angela Grunewald | Superintendent

Edmond Public Schools

Dr. Janet Vinson | Superintendent

Broken Arrow Public Schools

Vicki Ehlers | Retired director

Cleo L. Craig OSU Child Development Lab

Dr. Traci Jensen | Educator

Houston, Texas

Oklahoma State University teacher education helps future teachers make a significant and lasting impact on the lives of their students.

Involving Native American Communities

NASA-OSU program aims to open minds to earth and space science by adding cultural elements to curriculum

Sky curriculum will incorporate all these things. It will look like STEM, language arts and social studies together.”

This is the first time Oklahoma has been home to one of NASA’s Science Activation programs. Gardner-Vandy is working alongside three OSU co-investigators: Dr. Kalianne Neumann, assistant professor of learning, design and technology; Dr. Toni Ivey, associate professor of science education; and Dr. Juliana Utley, professor of mathematics education. Neumann brings expertise in educational technology, especially in managing Google classrooms, while Ivey specializes in creating curriculum and mentoring teachers in teaching STEM. Utley has led many professional development programs at OSU for teachers, and Gardner-Vandy is an earth and planetary scientist. The program will also work with OSU’s Center for Sovereign Nations as well as with researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Smithsonian Institution.

from kindergarten to graduate school. Dr. Susan Stansberry, OSU professor of learning, design and technology, estimates NSPACE activities reach more than 337,000 students and 82,000 educators across the United States. Gardner-Vandy plans to expand on that legacy.

“One of the main reasons Native Americans are so underrepresented in science and engineering fields has a lot to do with culture and community,” Gardner-Vandy said. “By adding that Native American culture and language into our curriculum, we’re including Native American communities in the conversation.”

Gardner-Vandy hopes to use her passion for planetary science as a catalyst to capture Native American students’ curiosity and expand possibilities and frontiers in science and engineering fields while building on OSU’s landgrant mission.

Native American communities, storytelling and earth and space curriculum are coming together in one ambitious project made possible through a $3.3 million NASA cooperative agreement with Oklahoma State University’s College of Education and Human Sciences.

Funding from NASA’s Science Activation program is uniting three of Oklahoma’s Native American communities with OSU professors to develop a new curriculum on earth and space science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) lessons.

Dr. Kat Gardner-Vandy, assistant professor of aviation and space, is the principal investigator of the program. Gardner-Vandy believes this is among the first formal earth-sky curricula to meet state standards while highlighting Oklahoma’s diverse Native American culture.

“Our goal is to work with individual nations and collaborate with them,” said Gardner-Vandy, a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. “In Native American culture, it’s important to include elders, the community as a whole, culture and language into education efforts.”

The program, titled “STEM Pathways for Native Americans: Bridging Native Knowledge of Earth and Sky with Traditional STEM Programming through the ‘Native Earth-Native Sky’ Program,” will incorporate Native American stories related to earth and space science into middle-school STEM curriculum, which will first be tested in a summer camp format, then become available online as an open educational resource.

“In a traditional curriculum, there is often a very Westernized way of looking at science,” Gardner-Vandy said. “It might include the scientific method and an experiment, but it won’t incorporate storytelling and language. Our Native Earth-Native

OSU has had a strong history of working with NASA and currently leads NSPACE (NASA STEM Pathway Activities — Consortium for Education). Distinct from the Science Activation program, NSPACE is a series of 16 innovative activities designed to serve students ranging

“When you start talking about what’s happening, say, on Mars or the moon, everyone gets excited to learn more,” Gardner-Vandy said. “As a land-grant institution, we are here to serve Oklahoma’s communities, and what better way to do that than by collaborating with Oklahoma’s Native American nations in celebration of the earth and space?”

OSU hopes its new partnership with NASA will bring more Native American students into STEM fields.

The Native Earth Native Sky team. From left: Dr. Kat Gardner-Vandy, Dr. Toni Ivey, Dr. Kalianne Neumann, Dr. Juliana Utley, Angela Just, Sarah Major and Sarah McDowell

“By adding that Native American culture and language into our curriculum, we’re including Native American communities in the conversation.”

DR. KAT GARDNER-VANDY, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF AVIATION AND SPACE

Making Students’ Thinking Visible

Innovative after-school program captures Native American students’ interest in STEM through spatial design

Virtual reality, augmented reality and 3D printing — hallmarks of the future — will now be used to help Native American students connect with their cultural past.

Through an innovative $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation, students from Chickasaw, Pawnee and Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribes will learn how to apply spatial design concepts through an after-school program led by Oklahoma State University professors, then craft building designs representing stories from their tribe’s culture.

After their designs are complete, students will “walk through” and experience the buildings using virtual and augmented reality.

“We hope to take what students already know naturally from their culture and use it to expand their understanding of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) concepts,” said Dr. Tilanka Chandrasekera, associate professor in the Department of Design, Housing and Merchandising in OSU’s College of Education and Human Sciences.

Inspiration for the project comes from a concept known as genus loci, which

Chandrasekera says is “the spirit of place.” Native American structures, such as round houses, demonstrate unique genus loci.

“We’re looking at architectural and designrelated problems and approaching it through an Indigenous way of knowing,” Chandrasekera said. “We will discuss Native American stories related to people and history, then challenge students to bring those stories to life with their designs.”

Dr. Tutaleni Asino, associate professor of learning, design and technology, leads the project with Chandrasekera. He hopes that as students design buildings representing their tribal heritage, they will develop a passion for STEM-related careers. According to the Pew Research Institute, less than 3% of STEM workers are Native American.

“In the next five to 10 years, technologies like virtual reality and 3D printing will be ubiquitous in many professions, from medicine to engineering,” Asino said. “Being exposed to this at a young age can capture students’ interest in STEM.”

The three-year grant will enable Chandrasekera and Asino to work with each tribe for one year, conducting professional development workshops for teachers and hosting afterschool programs for students.

As students use augmented and virtual reality, as well as 3D printing, topics such as room dimensions and software programming come to life. Details typically challenging to visualize, like the shadows created by a light fixture and the dimensions of a curving staircase, will be easy to see with augmented and virtual reality, and complex projects like calculating staircase dimensions will be more realistic.

“It makes students’ thinking visible and learning more immersive,” Asino said. “They can

Dr. Norma Neely, a fifth-grade teacher at Shawnee (Oklahoma) Public Schools and an elder in the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, has worked closely with Asino and Chandrasekera.

“Programs like this are absolutely essential to Native American students who, too often, are among the last to experience the latest technology and STEM opportunities,” Neely said. “Exposure to this type of learning can foster interest and actually change career pathways.”

Neely believes Native American communities have many strengths that can support and augment the program.

“The close family kinship circles serve as safe places for students to be encouraged to experiment and follow individual interests,” she said. “In turn, the cultural connections like in this project reinforce and institutionalize the importance of students learning and enjoying these new skills in the context of their nation’s cultural beliefs and values.”

The NSF grant builds on previous work Chandrasekera has led for Native American communities. In 2018, a two-week summer camp provided Native American middle school students opportunities to experience STEM concepts firsthand. Asino, Chandrasakera and Nicole Colston, an assistant research professor with the water resource center at OSU, are adapting the summer camp curriculum for an afterschool format and sharing what they learned while teaching for teachers.

“The idea is not just to provide a one-time program and then leave,” Asino said. “To make it more sustainable, we are training teachers who can provide these lessons to even more students in their individual classrooms.”

Tilanka Chandrasekara (right) demonstrates a design concept for STEM teachers.

STEM educators experienced virtual and augmented reality technology during a summer professional learning workshop at OSU.

Opportunity Orange Scholars

New program offers postsecondary education for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Each year, students with intellectual and/ or developmental disability graduate from high school with the hope of attending college.

Oklahoma State University is poised to serve this growing need with Opportunity Orange Scholars, a new postsecondary education program for young adults 18 to 26 that will welcome its first students next fall.

Dr. Jennifer Jones and Dr. Kami Gallus, faculty members in the Department of Human Development and Family Science in the College of Education and Human Sciences, have long focused their teaching and research on serving individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and their families.

“OSU has worked diligently to be recognized as America’s Healthiest Campus® and a Diversity Champion,” Gallus said. “Yet, we realized a few years ago there was a disconnect when it came to including individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our research clearly indicated the need for more opportunities for social inclusion and exercise for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Oklahoma.”

The two began developing and implementing community-engaged programs to bring together OSU faculty, students, staff and adult community members with intellectual and developmental disabilities through book clubs, campus walking groups and more.

“We were thrilled and even a bit surprised to see how impactful the programs have been for OSU students and community members with intellectual and developmental disabilities alike,” Jones said.

The continuing, successful programming led to the creation of the Institute for Developmental Disabilities, its mission focused on learning from and serving alongside individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and their families.

“At the heart of our work, we seek to build relationships that bring individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities together to live, learn, work and play,” Jones said.

Creating a postsecondary education program at OSU for students with intellectual and/ or developmental disabilities was a natural progression of the Institute’s work, and Jones

and Gallus worked closely with partners across the OSU campus to design Opportunity Orange Scholars.

“The planning for this program has been a long time in the making and is key to continuing our mission as a land-grant university,” Jones said.

ENHANCING INCLUSION

Students admitted to Opportunity Orange Scholars can pursue a two-year, non-degree certificate with an additional, non-degree advanced certification program option. Full admission criteria is under development and applications for the program will become available in spring 2022.

“The Cowboy family believes that everyone should have the opportunity to take advantage of all that higher education has to offer,” said OSU Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Doug Hallenbeck. “As a leading land-grant institution, we are fully committed to this program, its participants and their families.”

With the four primary components of independent living, social skills, academics and career development, Opportunity Orange Scholars will align with requirements for future accreditation as a Comprehensive Transition Program. Students will live on campus, take functional academic courses, engage in social and physical fitness activities and participate in internships.

“Opportunity Orange Scholars represent a wonderful and meaningful expansion in the university’s commitment to sustaining and enriching our culture of inclusion,” said OSU Vice President for Institutional Diversity Dr. Jason Kirksey.

Degree-seeking students will benefit from experiences provided by Opportunity Orange Scholars, gaining experience, skills and attitudes to be successful in a more diverse world.

“Many hands, minds and hearts have gone into developing a meaningful and inclusive postsecondary program,” said Human Development and Family Science department head Dr. Sissy Osteen. “Opportunity Orange Scholars can build diversity and greater understanding of experiences across the lifespan.”

“The need to belong is universal. The desire to be included by your community, to have meaningful work, and to share life with people you love and who love you — to belong — are not ‘special needs,’ they are very ordinary needs. When individuals feel valued, needed, respected and significant, a true sense of belonging occurs,” Gallus said.

SUPPORT FOR THE PROGRAM

OSU continues to raise funds for Opportunity Orange Scholars.

The university is collaborating with LeadLearnLive, an Oklahoma organization that raises awareness and support for postsecondary opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The nonprofit has committed more than $300,000 toward Opportunity Orange Scholars over the next three years.

“We are so excited about our partnership with OSU and seeing years of work toward this possibility become a reality,” said LeadLearnLive founder and executive director Julie Lackey. “We are confident that this program will be one of the best in the nation and prepare young adults to live their best life.”

For information on how to support Opportunity Orange Scholars, contact Rachel Tribble at the OSU Foundation (rtribble@ osugiving.com).

LeadLearnLive founder and executive director Julie Lackey and the LeadLearnLive board present a check for the initial installment to Opportunity Orange Scholars program leaders in Stillwater during a visit to campus in June.

“When individuals feel valued, needed, respected and significant, a true sense of belonging occurs.”

DR. KAMI GALLUS, PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY SCIENCE

LEARN MORE about Opportunity Orange Scholars, visit okla. st/orangescholars

People. Passion. Purpose.

Graduate students embody the college’s core mission

Current and former graduate students across the College of Education and Human Sciences are leading in exceptional ways and making significant and meaningful impacts within their programs, professions and communities through research, teaching and service.

ALUMNI

Lt. Col. Omar Hamilton

2015 Aviation and Space Education Ed.D.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Omar Hamilton took his career to the next level with his degree. Stationed at Joint Base LangleyEustis in Virginia, Hamilton works in the Headquarters Air Combat Command as chief of the Current Operations Branch, leading efforts to provide troops and airplanes throughout the world. As leader of the crisis response team, he also oversees aid delivery during natural disasters.

“My career has taken me all over the world flying with the E-3 Sentry, Airborne Warning and Control System. I’ve led airmen in every capacity on and off the jet, and serving as commander was one of the highlights of my career.”

Hanna Al-Jiborui is an elementary school teacher and reading specialist in Tulsa. She serves as the board president for Poetic Justice, a nonprofit organization that offers writing and arts programs for individuals incarcerated in women’s prisons and jails. Since its formation in 2014, the program has welcomed more than 3,500 participants and 500 volunteers.

“My work with Poetic Justice is humbling and always reminds me to have gratitude. Being a part of this organization has forever changed my perspective on others and their lived experiences. I have always believed the power of writing is life-saving, and my work with Poetic Justice has further affirmed that belief.”

As a high school science teacher, Brett Stout saw students struggling with complex issues and decided to pursue his master’s degree so he could provide them with the appropriate resources to heal. As a two-time OSU graduate, Stout is making a difference as a school counselor for Kellyville (Oklahoma) Public Schools.

“Becoming a school counselor has equipped me to support my students, and amongst mental health professions, it gives a lot of time flexibility to meet students’ needs.”

Dr. Don Raleigh is using his degree to lead education conversations across the state while investing in teachers, staff and students as superintendent. While pursuing his doctorate, Raleigh was an early participant of TeleED, a collaborative teleconference program for Oklahoma school administrators. Originally designed as an opportunity for superintendents of large school districts to share resources and insight with colleagues in smaller, rural districts, TeleED has become vital as school administrators develop collaborative solutions for distance learning.

“I’ve been blessed to be in a position to hopefully make some change and to have an impact on kids in our community. I came to OSU wanting to continue to excel as a leader and to grow my own personal craft, so I could support the Pryor School District.”

BY THE NUMBERS

■ 30+ master’s programs in aviation, design, education, health, human development, nutrition and more.

■ 19 doctoral programs in counseling psychology, education, nutritional sciences and more.

■ 25 online programs, including certificate programs, providing maximum flexibility for students.

■ Learn more: okla.st/ehsgrad

Hanna Al-Jibouri 2016 Reading and Literacy M.S.

Brett Stout 2016 Counseling M.S.

Dr. Don Raleigh 2017 School Administration Ed.D.

CURRENTSTUDENTS

Carly Dunn was recently recognized as a Women for OSU Scholar in honor of her commitment to helping others through compassion, work ethic and dedication to philanthropic efforts. Her research focuses on addressing health inequities and the social determinants of health for underserved and marginalized communities. As part of the Center for Family Resilience and Center for Public Life staff, she works extensively on mental health, substance use and equitybased projects and initiatives. Additionally, she works closely with rural Native American and Alaskan Native communities across OKlahoma, Kansas and Alaska to address behavioral health prevention and intervention needs.

“I work within this vein of research and advocacy in order to address the systemic and systematic barriers which drive health inequities. By addressing the social determinants of health, we are able to equip communities with the tools and resources needed to improve health and quality of life.”

Audrey Firth is committed to creating designs that help people feel happy, healthy, safe and better in the space around them. Her master’s thesis focuses on spacecraft design, a passion she discovered after hearing a NASA guest speaker in one of her classes. The beginning stages of her research involve using virtual reality headsets to test how people feel in the environment and altering her designs and sketches accordingly.

“Interior design is not just decorating. It’s designing things in a way that work for people so they can live and do what they need to in that space.”

Stephanie Sontag received the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Foundation Women’s Scholarship for her research on muscle physiology. Specifically, she studies muscle fiber composition, motor unit behavior and resistance training. One of her projects includes isolating a hand muscle and investigating how its motor units adapt in response to resistance training. Ultimately, she wants to use what she learns at OSU to encourage other women to pursue strength and conditioning careers.

“It’s important for women to know there are women in the field making a difference. There are not many female strength and conditioning professors, and I want to change that.”

Stephanie Zackery is combining her passion for mental health with her desire to empower more underrepresented students to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professions. Her thesis research studies how effective mentorship can improve the experience and retention of racial minority STEM students by boosting their self-confidence.

“Counseling allows me to use the theories and concepts I learn in my classes to help people in a direct way. I have always been interested in people and how their minds work, and now I can use that in a career that makes a difference.”

Bryant Keirns is using financial support from an American Society for Nutrition Foundation award to identify early cardiovascular disease risk factors in groups that appear to be at higher risk for longterm cardiovascular disease. Another of Keirns’ research interests is studying how gut health influences overall health and cardiovascular disease risk. His goal is to one day combine these two interests to perform clinical research and teach in a university setting.

“Our hope is that my dissertation research will help resolve controversy over whether individuals with metabolically healthy obesity are at risk for cardiovascular disease or not. We are also trying to identify risk factors that may reveal cardiovascular disease risk sooner in those with normalweight obesity.”

Carly Dunn Human Development and Family Science Ph.D. student

Stephanie Sontag Health and Human Performance Ph.D. student

Stephanie Zackery Counseling M.S. student

Audrey Firth Interior Design M.S. student

Bryant Keirns Nutritional Sciences Ph.D. student

COLLEGE NAMES TOP 6

OUTSTANDING SENIORS FOR 2021

The College of Education and Human Sciences recognized six Outstanding Seniors for 2021. With more than 800 seniors in the graduating class, these students represent the top 1 percent. Those selected for this prestigious honor have displayed their commitment to the landgrant mission through research, outreach and coursework.

Anna Rankin

Vernon, New Jersey Nutritional sciences, option in dietetics

Anna Rankin worked as a medical services clerical staff member and a student employee for OSU facilities management. She also served as president of the Chi Alpha campus ministry and the OSU Nutritional Sciences Club. Her senior capstone project — Choose Orange — promoted healthy dining on the OSU campus.

“Anna’s willingness to go above and beyond in her classwork, as well as her research interest and abilities, will bring great value to her career as she leads with a cutting edge of evidencebased practice,” said Dr. Jill Joyce, assistant professor of public health nutrition.

Sydney Bellah Stillwater

Human development and family science, option in child and family services

Sydney Bellah worked with the Institute for Developmental Disabilities as an undergraduate researcher. She was a Wentz Research Scholar and Freshman Research Scholar, studying forgiveness among female prison inmates and marriage longevity. Bellah supported individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities as an Opportunity Orange Book Club facilitator and was active on campus as a student council member, Center for Family Services intern and OSU Cycling Team member.

“Her enthusiasm is contagious and her tenacity and passion in approaching challenging tasks is admirable,” said Dr. Jennifer Jones, associate professor of human development and family science.

“It has been an honor to observe her personal growth and development.”

Camryn Chitty

Choctaw, Oklahoma Human development and family science, option in child and family services.

Camryn Chitty has been an active researcher in the OSU Child Trauma Prevention Lab and presented at conferences of the Oklahoma Psychological Society and the Oklahoma Psychological Association. She held numerous campus leadership positions, including president of the national service sorority, Omega Phi Alpha.

“Camryn is a competent and driven young woman who is highly motivated to succeed,” said Dr. Lana Beasley, associate professor of human development and family science.

“Camryn represents everything that an OSU student should be — kind, caring, dedicated, hardworking and driven toward excellence.”

Danielle Anastasi

Conroe, Texas Nutritional sciences, option in dietetics

Danielle Anastasi was an active contributor in the Lab for Applied Nutrition and Exercise Science studying cardiovascular and liver health. She was involved with Project H.E.A.R.T. — a nutrition program delivering healthy meals to seniors in Stillwater — and the Eating Recovery Center. Anastasi also created and led a diversity, equity and inclusion committee in her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma.

“Danielle has overcome challenges, gained confidence and taken advantage of important opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom,” said Jennifer Eisensmith, nutritional sciences academic advisor. “These experiential learning opportunities have given Danielle the strong foundation she needed for academic and serviceoriented success.”

SENIORS OF DISTINCTION

Additionally, the college recognized 34 Seniors of Distinction for 2021.

Malorie Allen, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, design, housing and merchandising, option in fashion design and production

Craig Anderson Dallas, aerospace administration and operations, option in aviation management

Madison Brook Tulsa, design, housing and merchandising, option in interior design

Elizabeth Burks Amarillo, Texas, nutritional sciences, option in human nutrition/pre-medical sciences

Alexis Blaire Brannon, Centerton, Arkansas, elementary education

Hannah Childers Castle Rock, Colorado, elementary education

Emily Kruse

Coos Bay, Oregon Aerospace administration and operations, option in professional pilot

Emily Kruse was a McKnight Leadership Scholar and volunteers with numerous organizations, including Our Daily Bread, Payne County Youth Services and Habitat for Humanity.

Kruse is a member of the Flying Aggies and the OSU Flight Team. She also helped found the Women in Aviation International Chapter and serves as its president.

“Based on her success at OSU, it is evident that she is going to accomplish great things, and have a profound and lasting impact on our professional pilot program and the College of Education and Human Sciences,” said Madison Hagen, aviation academic advisor.

Hope

Jandreau

Oklahoma City

Nutritional sciences, option in dietetics

Hope Jandreau served as a member of the Education and Human Sciences Student Council and interned with Stillwater Church of Christ and the University Center campus ministry. She worked in the medical field as a dietary aide at VITAL Healthcare and was the student council liaison for the OSU Nutritional Sciences Club.

“Hope’s quick learning and high critical thinking abilities stand out from her peers,” Jill Joyce, assistant professor of public health nutrition, said. “She inspires greatness in herself and those around her.”

Rachel Dockrey Shawnee, Oklahoma, nutritional sciences, option in dietetics

Ashtyn Fox Pflugerville, Texas, human development and family science, option in early childhood education

Isabella Garagusi Tulsa, design, housing and merchandising, option in fashion design and production

Allison Girty Amarillo, Texas, elementary education

Alexis Gonzales Granbury, Texas, design, housing and merchandising, option in fashion design and production

Trey Gradnigo Edmond, Oklahoma, applied exercise science, option in pre-professional

Halle Hannon Mustang, Oklahoma, nutritional sciences, option in human nutrition/pre-medical sciences

Ashley Henry Claremore, Oklahoma, elementary education

Logan Hutto McKinney, Texas, aerospace administration and operations, option in aviation management

Rebekah Kafer Duncan, Oklahoma, design, housing and merchandising, option in fashion merchandising

Emilee Kula, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, human development and family science, option in child and family services

Kelsey Lauerman Cushing, Oklahoma, human development and family science, option in child and family services

Kamryn Marth Tulsa, applied exercise science, option in strength and conditioning

Macy McAnally Lewisville, Texas, design, housing and merchandising, option in merchandising

Karen “KD” McCloy Gruver, Texas, aerospace administration and operations, option in professional pilot

Meg Perez Wichita, Kansas, human development and family science, option in child and family services

Payton Price, Stillwater, nutritional sciences, option in allied health

Jocelin Rocha-Honorato, Oklahoma City, elementary education

Sydnee Scott Edmond, Oklahoma, nutritional sciences, option in allied health

Tara Serocki Littleton, Colorado, aerospace administration and operations, option in professional pilot

Preston Shoemaker Frisco, Texas, aerospace administration and operations, option in professional pilot

Makayla Simmons Owasso, Oklahoma, nutritional sciences, option in dietetics

Lindsay “Blake” Smith, Arnett, Oklahoma, nutritional sciences, option in dietetics

Allison Stuckey Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, elementary education

Taylor Transou, Dallas, elementary education

Audrey Wint, Tulsa, health education and promotion, option in exercise and health

Dosik Woo Tulsa, health education and promotion, option in exercise and health

Kyle Young Owasso, Oklahoma, aerospace administration and operations, option in technical service management

Loyal and True College

honors Lou Watkins with a Hall of Fame induction

Lou Watkins’ connections to Oklahoma State University run deep.

She is a two-time graduate of the university, past member and chair of the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents and even met her husband of 57 years, former state senator and U.S. Rep. Wes Watkins, at the OSU library. Most recently, Watkins was inducted into the 2021 OSU College of Education and Human Sciences Hall of Fame, the highest honor bestowed by the college. The recognition celebrates her lifelong commitment to empowering others through education and public service and honors her significant contributions to the college and the university.

“As a student, alumna, donor and Regent, Lou Watkins has touched Oklahoma State University in a variety of ways and made an incredible impact,” said former OSU President Burns Hargis. “I particularly appreciate her vision and support as a member of the OSU Board of Regents during my time as president. There is no finer example of ‘loyal and true’ than Lou and her husband, Wes.”

Raised in Cushing, Oklahoma, her first passion was political science, which took her to Washington D.C., to enroll at American University. However, she soon returned to her roots, transferring to OSU for her bachelor’s degree in political science. With her husband’s encouragement, Watkins went on to

pursue a master’s degree in secondary education so she could share her passion and shape young minds as a classroom teacher.

Her first teaching position at Wilburton (Oklahoma) High School brought both challenges and triumphs as she taught government, history and economics to students facing real learning barriers.

“I found there were many ways that I could help those students in overcoming those obstacles to learning,” Watkins said. “In some cases, it was an obstacle to even functioning very well in school or in society.”

One such student, a 15-year-old named Don, confided in Watkins that he couldn’t read. She took it upon herself to enroll him in OSU’s reading lab, where instructors spent hours with him, analyzing why he was unable to read and developing a strategy to help him learn. Over the next two years, Watkins and a fellow teacher diligently worked with Don to advance his reading level.

This was not an isolated event. Over the course of her career, Watkins personally invested in her students and made her decisions with their best interests in mind.

“Lou has such a giving and caring attitude toward students as an educator,” said Calvin Anthony, an OSU/A&M Board of Regents member.

LEARN MORE about Lou Watkins in this video: https://okla. st/lou

STORY DIANA HASLETT | PHOTOS CEHS

“She went above and beyond when students needed individual help.”

In 1971, Watkins was recruited by the academic vice president at East Central University, where she enjoyed a 14-year career teaching political science. She chaired the department for five years, and the university established the Lou Watkins Endowed Lectureship in her honor when she left.

Watkins has also remained passionate about supporting and advocating for rural Oklahomans. As a member of the board for Leadership Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Academy for State Goals, she pushed for statewide representation to ensure rural Oklahomans were provided the same opportunities as ones in the larger metropolitan areas.

“When Lou sees a need in our community and state, she doesn’t just wait for someone else to do it,” said Toni Stone, who nominated Watkins for the college’s Hall of Fame. “She takes the initiative, garners support and makes it happen!”

Perhaps her most impactful and rewarding work was the 23 years she served on the Board of Regents for the OSU system and the Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges of Oklahoma. Studentcentered most appropriately describes her appointment. From advocating for additional need-based student scholarships to supporting the construction of state-of-the-art facilities such as Boone Pickens Stadium, the Spears School of Business building and The McKnight Center for

the Performing Arts, Watkins prioritized providing a life-changing experience for Oklahoma State students.

After retiring from the board in 2019, her legacy lives on through an endowed student fund established in her name by fellow board members. The fund helps meet students’ emergency needs such as a doctor’s visit or a vehicle failure that might have otherwise caused them to leave school.

Together, Lou’s and Wes’ impact can be seen across the OSU campus. They have endowed a chair within the School of Global Studies and Partnerships; they were inducted into the Proud and Immortal Society of million-dollar donors with the OSU Foundation; and they have endowed 17 individual student scholarships. Many of those scholarships support students seeking to improve communities in the U.S. and throughout the world through hands-on service, such as building homes, developing hydroponic food or bringing potable water to remote communities.

Whether supporting students’ educational endeavors in and outside the classroom, improving society through volunteer work or investing in the lives of those around her, this loyal and true Cowgirl has certainly secured her legacy at OSU and beyond.

“Each and every endeavor improves the lives of those her efforts touch,” said Oklahoma Sen. Tom Dugger. “We have enriched lives because of Lou.”

Health Headlines: Unpeeled

New podcast peels back the true science behind nutritional claims

Fad diets, health trends, wellness tips and more — these hot topics are addressed in headlines everywhere, every day. But are they too good to be true? What’s fact and what’s fiction? Today’s health solution can lead to tomorrow’s confusion as contradictory and everchanging information swirls on social media and news outlets. Faculty and graduate students in the Department of Nutritional Sciences of Oklahoma State University’s College of Education and Human Sciences are working to combat this through Health Headlines: Unpeeled, a podcast tackling some of nutrition’s tastiest topics.

“I can’t slow down or control the overwhelming nature of today’s information world, so I came up with a different solution: Join them and be a voice of clarity and effective translation of science into user-friendly messages,” said Dr. Jill Joyce, assistant professor of nutritional sciences and the podcast’s co-host.

Her daily calls home to her mom, who is also a scientist and loves discussing the latest health headlines, prompted Joyce to launch the podcast. The two often discuss what’s logical and what’s probably exaggerated.

“We have this conversation at least every other day,” Joyce said. “Nutrition is always on TV, social media and news websites. It can be very overwhelming for people, and not everyone has the media-savvy mind that my mom has. The spark started there.”

Joining Joyce on the podcast is Dr. Stephen Clarke, head of the Department of Nutritional Sciences, who sees it as an opportunity to contribute to the university’s land-grant mission, especially as it relates to extension and outreach.

“We are actively engaged in educating our listeners so that they have a better understanding of the role that nutrition plays in promoting optimal health and reducing chronic disease risk,” Clarke

“When Lou sees a need in our community and state, she doesn’t just wait for someone else to do it. She takes the initiative, garners support and makes it happen!”

TONI STONE, HALL OF FAME NOMINATOR

Dr. Jill Joyce and Dr. Stephen Clarke work on their Health Headlines: Unpeeled podcast.

said. “Our ‘why’ is to empower others to make informed nutrition and health decisions so that they can lead a satisfying and productive life. We believe strongly in the power of nutrition to change and improve lives.”

The podcast, which began over the summer, now includes nearly 10 episodes addressing recent health-related claims. Joined by special guests, including nutritional sciences graduate students, Joyce and Clarke discuss a range of topics, including whether or not obesity is more deadly than smoking, if protein bolsters recovery from COVID-19, if childhood diets have a lasting impact and if specific eating habits raise the risk of death.

“We take nutrition headlines that our family, friends, students and colleagues share with us and break them down, teach health information and critical thinking, and leave listeners with an evidence-based, actionable message to take home,” Joyce said.

Graduate student involvement, both in front of the mic and behind the scenes, has been key to the success of the project. Several podcast episodes have featured OSU dietetic research master’s students who are completing their internship to become registered dietitians. They’ve joined the discussion, helping to debunk exaggerated headline claims by comparing them with the actual research studies referenced and checking for accuracy.

“I think this podcast makes it easier to understand the information out there and where

it comes from so that you, as the reader or listener, can come to your own conclusion,” said Kennedy Robinson, dietetic research master’s student.

“Now, I know where to find information, how it can be applied in the real world and that I’m fully capable of having these conversations.”

Participating in the podcast has also given Robinson and others important real-world experience that will benefit them in their future careers.

“My favorite part of this project is being able to digest scientific findings and present them in a way that’s understandable to a lay audience,” said Katherine Bode, a dietetic research master’s student. “It’s really important for me to learn to communicate in a way that my future patients and clients will understand.”

The mentoring opportunity the podcast provides reflects the program’s mission to develop poised professionals.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see how the communication skills of our students have progressed in just a few episodes,” Clarke said. “They exhibit more confidence and are more relaxed in just being who they are and communicating the science behind the headlines.”

And all involved really want the podcast’s vital messages to resonate with listeners.

“I hope this podcast changes some worlds, through sound nutrition and health messages, and that our passion for it is contagious,” Joyce said.

Buildings renamed to honor Davis

Two buildings on Oklahoma State University’s Stillwater campus have been renamed to honor civil rights pioneer Nancy Randolph Davis, the first African American student to attend then-Oklahoma A&M College in 1949. The Human Sciences and Human Sciences West buildings were renamed Nancy Randolph Davis and Nancy Randolph Davis West during the October 2020 OSU/A&M Board of Regents meeting in Stillwater.

“This historically profound action by OSU and the A&M Board of Regents reflects and represents far more than the name of Mrs. Davis being physically attached and permanently assigned to one of the primary buildings for this academic college. It memorializes the willingness and desire of OSU to provide a sense of hope, as well as a level of expectation, on every member of the OSU community and family, that we can, must, and will continue engaging in meaningful efforts to transform ourselves and this university into a place that provides the fulfillment of educational goals and ideals in alignment with our land-grant mission,” said Dr. Jason F. Kirksey, vice president for institutional diversity and OSU’s chief diversity officer.

“This tangible action further elevates OSU’s stature as a national

leader and a role model for our commitment to social justice, equity and inclusion. While there is certainly more work to do, it is important to recognize and have a sense of pride in the momentous and transformative actions that continue occurring at the university.”

Davis earned a bachelor’s degree from Langston University in 1948 and a master’s degree in what was then called home economics, from A&M in 1952 before teaching home economics in Oklahoma high schools for more than 40 years. She died in 2015.

OSU has honored Davis multiple times. In 1999, she received the OSU Distinguished Alumni Award, and OSU’s residential Davis Hall was named in her honor in 2001. Each February, the university celebrates “Nancy Randolph Davis Day.” In 2009, she received the OSU College of Human Sciences’ Enhancing Human Lives Award. She was inducted into OSU’s Greek Hall of Fame in 2012 and OSU’s Hall of Fame in 2018. Last year, a bronze sculpture in her likeness was unveiled in the courtyard of the then-Human Sciences building. She was also recognized by the state in 2018 with a threemile stretch of Interstate 35 west of Stillwater named the Nancy Randolph Davis Memorial Highway.

“Our ‘why’ is to empower others to make informed nutrition and health decisions so that they can lead a satisfying and productive life. We believe strongly in the power of nutrition to change and improve lives.”

DR. STEPHEN CLARKE, NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT HEAD

Dr. Jill Joyce

College bids farewell to Dean Wilson

The College of Education and Human Sciences said farewell to Dean Stephan M. Wilson and celebrated his more than 13 years of leadership and service at Oklahoma State University during an appreciation event in late April.

From 2008 to 2020, Wilson was dean of the College of Human Sciences. Since the College of Education and Human Sciences was established in July 2020, Wilson had served as interim dean.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve as your dean,” Wilson said. “One of my greatest joys of the last 13-plus years has been the many wonderful friendships that I have gained. I am humbled by and will cherish these wonderful connections throughout my days.”

College presents faculty and staff awards

Thirteen faculty and staff members were recognized for excellence in service, mentorship, research, teaching, creativity and innovation during the College of Education and Human Sciences’ annual Faculty and Staff Awards Ceremony. The winners and their awards include:

FACULTY

 Dr. Deana Hildebrand, nutritional sciences professor — Outstanding Community Engagement Award

 Dr. Jennifer Sanders, literacy education associate professor — Global Education Faculty Excellence Award

 Dr. Gary Duhon, school psychology professor — Graduate Faculty Excellence Award

 Dr. Paulette Hebert , design, housing and merchandising professor — Leadership Service and Excellence Award

 Dr. Daniel Lin, nutritional sciences associate professor — Research Excellence Award

 Dr. Sam Emerson nutritional sciences assistant professor — Marguerite Scruggs Award

 Dr. Ki Cole research, evaluation, measurement and statistics associate professor — Teaching Excellence Award

 Dr. Kelley Rhoads assistant professor of health education and promotion (public health) — Undergraduate Research Mentor Award

OSU honors faculty and staff members

STAFF

 Rachel Eng marketing and communications manager — Star Award

 Delaina Goforth, Department of Design, Housing and Merchandising administrative support specialist — Star Award

 Mary Mach, senior academic advisor — Creativity and Innovation Award

 Melissa White, research administration operations manager — Mentor Award

 RuthAnn Sirbaugh, continuing and professional education manager — Morsani Service Award

Work continues on new flight center

Construction continues on the new Ray and Linda Booker OSU Flight Center, set to open later this fall. The 11,600-square-foot facility is named after the Bookers, two aviation enthusiasts and longtime Oklahoma State University supporters who made a $1 million gift. The facility includes spaces for individual flight debriefings, offices, student common areas, dispatch and more. Project supporters gathered in late July to tour the construction site located south of the Stillwater Regional Airport.

Ten faculty and staff members from the College of Education and Human Sciences received universitywide recognition at the 2020 Convocation, held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Academic advisor Tom Joyce received the University Service Staff Award, one of the highest awards given, for going above and beyond to make a notable difference within his unit and across campus. As a member of OSU’s Incident Management Team, Joyce was instrumental in processing COVID-19 samples, quickly implementing a system to collect and transport samples from every county health department in Oklahoma. As a result of his efforts, all areas of the state received timely COVID-19 test results.

Additional recipients included:

 Global Education Faculty Excellence Award: Dr. Jay Dawes associate professor of health and human performance

 Online Teaching Excellence Award: Dr. Greg Clare associate professor in the Department of Design, Housing and Merchandising

 Regents Distinguished Teaching Award: Dr. Matt Brosi, professor of human development and family science

 Distinguished Early Career Faculty Award: Dr. Tutaleni Asino associate professor of learning, design and technology

 Regents Distinguished Research Award: Dr. Ronald Cox Jr. George Kaiser Family Foundation Endowed Chair of Child and Family Resilience and professor of human development and family science

 Women’s Faculty Council Outstanding Achievement Award: Dr. Tonya Hammer Jacques Flannery Professor and associate professor, counseling and counseling psychology

 Excellence in Academic Program Assessment: Dr. Susan Stansberry professor of learning, design and technology; and Dr. Penny Thompson associate professor of learning, design and technology

 Excellence in Advising Award: Madison Hagen, senior academic advisor

Linda Booker tours the new building alongside her son Craig Parrish, his wife Amy and their daughter Lucy.

Tom Joyce

Graduate students recognized for excellence

The Oklahoma State University College of Education and Human Sciences recognized student excellence at the annual Graduate and Professional Education Appreciation Awards event.

“The College of Education and Human Sciences is at the forefront of research, education and outreach because of its faculty, staff and students,” said Dr. Christine Johnson, associate vice president for research. “These award recipients demonstrate excellency each day, and their contributions truly make a difference.”

Three named Outstanding Seniors

The OSU Alumni Association named three College of Education and Human Sciences students as Outstanding Seniors for the 2020-2021 academic year. These students were among 22 chosen from across campus in recognition of academic achievement, campus and community involvement, extracurricular honors and work ethic during their time at OSU. All three were also named Seniors of Significance.

 Kelsey Lauermann, Cushing, Oklahoma, human development and family science, option in child and family services. She plans to attend law school this fall, specializing in family law for domestic violence survivors, families and juveniles. “My proudest accomplishment at OSU has been all of the lives have impacted. I feel like I was truly able to make a difference.”

 Kaitlyn Kirksey Stillwater, human development and family science, option in family and consumer sciences education. She plans to teach high school family and consumer sciences classes and become a Family, Consumer and Community Leaders Association (FCCLA) advisor. “Rather than measuring each student by the same yardstick for success, as an FCS educator I have

Award recipients:

 Luis Mejia-Puig design, housing and merchandising doctoral student — Outstanding Teaching by a Graduate Student Award

 Joel Komakech, nutritional sciences doctoral student — Outstanding Research by a Graduate Student Award

 Carlee Vogt Boccacci, human development and family science master’s student — Julie Branch Staton Award

College recognizes Outstanding Alumni

the opportunity to provide my students tools to not only define their own personal success, but also equip them to achieve it.”

 Carolina Quijada Elk City, Oklahoma, nutritional sciences, option in human nutrition/pre-medical sciences. She plans to support rural and underserved communities as either a physician or a public health worker. “If we further educate communities on health, it will only make Oklahoma, as a whole, stronger and healthier.”

Additionally, the following students were named Seniors of Significance in recognition of excellence in scholarship, leadership and service to campus.

 Alec Puckett Bixby, Oklahoma, health education and promotion

 Ashley Henry Claremore, Oklahoma, elementary education

 Bella Garagusi Tulsa, fashion design and production

 Halle Hannon, Mustang, Oklahoma, nutritional sciences, option in human nutrition/pre-medical sciences

 Madison Brooke, Tulsa, interior design

The Oklahoma State University College of Education and Human Sciences honored four exemplary individuals with Outstanding Alumni Awards during a virtual ceremony April 23. The award recognizes individuals demonstrating excellence in their accomplishments, service to the community, leadership and desire to grow in their talents and purposefully serve others.

Wilma Davis-Brooks earned her bachelor’s in home economics education in 1964 and her master’s in family relations and child development in 1972 at OSU. Originally from Idabel, Oklahoma, she currently teaches family and consumer sciences at Harold Murphy Alternative High School in Hobbs, New Mexico. With more than 50 years of experience, she is the longestserving active teacher in New Mexico. In 2020, Davis-Brooks was selected as a New Mexico magazine True Hero. She has also been recognized as the 2012 New Mexico Educator of the Year, and in 2017, she was awarded the Governor’s Plaque and a Proclamation for Dedicated Service in Education.

Dr. Shannon Dial of Ada, Oklahoma, graduated from OSU in 2005 with a master’s in marriage and family therapy. She went on to earn her doctorate in marriage and family therapy from Texas Tech University in 2014. Dial is the executive officer of integrated services at the Chickasaw Nation, where she leads the innovative Zero Suicide framework into the health care and mental health teams. Her work with Zero Suicide has led to numerous awards, including two National Indian Health Board Local Impact Awards and semifinalist honors for the Harvard American Indian Economic Development Honoring Nations Award in 2018 and 2020.

Eunice Menja earned her bachelor’s in human development and family science from OSU in 2008 and her master’s in human development and family science from OSU in 2011. She is pursuing a doctorate degree from Kenyatta University in Kenya, Africa. While an undergraduate student in 2007, she founded the nonprofit organization Upendo Kids to support

Inaugural sport conference goes virtual College joins OSU’s work on U.N. goals

The inaugural International Sport and Tactical Fitness Conference was held virtually in April. Led by Dr. Jay Dawes, associate professor of applied exercise science, the conference welcomed participants from around the world,

including students, faculty, first responders and soldiers. Leading scholars and practitioners presented on a wide range of sport and tactical fitness topics. The next virtual conference is slated for spring 2022.

True to Oklahoma State University’s land-grant mission, the College of Education and Human Sciences is conducting important work that responds to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development goals, including these highlights:

orphaned children in her home country of Kenya. More than 20,000 orphans have received shelter, medical care and education from Upendo Kids, and 50 orphans currently live in the facilities full-time. In addition to Upendo Kids, Menja also worked for four years as a foster care specialist for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, where she was named Employee of the Quarter.

Donna Williams earned her bachelor’s in apparel design from OSU in 1997 as the program’s first honors graduate. She lives in Lakeville, Minnesota, where she is the senior project manager of apparel innovation and technology at Target Corp., managing the integration of 3D design technologies throughout the apparel division. During her first year with Target, she increased 3D technology adoption by 40%. Prior to working at Target, Williams worked for Lands’ End as the product development technical designer and for K-Mart as a technical designer.

 Good Health and Well-Being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

 Quality Education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

From Left: Associate Dean Adrienne Sanogo, Carolina Quijada, Kelsey Lauermann and Kaitlin Kirksey

PHOTO GENESEE PHOTO

Wilma Davis-Brooks Dr. Shannon Dial Eunice Menja Donna Williams

Tutoring center welcomes namesakes

The Randall and Carol White Reading and Mathematics Center welcomed its namesakes this spring to its new home in Willard Hall. The center, which offers personalized tutoring assistance to K-8 grade students, is named in honor of Randall and Carol White, who are avid literacy supporters and generous investors in the facility and its services. Randall White was inducted to the College of Education Hall of Fame in 2008 and is the active executive chairman of Educational Development Corp., which provides educational books to children.

Virtual Euphoria Fashion Show dazzles audience

The student-led Euphoria Fashion Show was held virtually April 16, showcasing the show’s 10th anniversary while accommodating COVID-19 precautions.

In its first-ever virtual format, students held private filming sessions off-campus through a partnership with the O’Colly Media Group. While challenging, design, housing and merchandising department head Dr. Lynn Boorady said it created an effect similar to how professional designers altered New York City’s Fashion Week throughout COVID. Without the time constraints of a runway show, students could curate details like models’ hair and makeup to fine-tune their collections.

“I am very proud of how our students have reimagined the fashion show this year,” Boorady said. “This shows flexibility and being willing to change — great skills to have in their future careers.”

Flying Aggie goes to space

At age 82, Wally Funk, an OSU alumna and former Flying Aggie, became the oldest person to fly in space alongside Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and two others on July 20. Funk helped pave the way for women in space, making history as the military’s first female civilian flight instructor at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and later training for the first manned space flight as part of the Women in Space program in 1961. Known as the Mercury 13, Funk and a team of female astronauts successfully performed the same tests as their male counterparts, but were denied their chance at going to space due to gender. When NASA finally allowed women into its space program, all 13 members were deemed too old. Sixty years later, Funk’s dream of going to space was realized aboard Blue Origin’s rocket, the New Shepard.

Give Orange nets $117,145 for college

The College of Education and Human Sciences raised $117,145 from 271 total gifts over the span of two days during the 2021 Give Orange campaign this spring. Give Orange challenges OSU students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends to support their orange passion over 1,890 minutes. Generous donors helped the college meet all match challenges and raised funds to support student scholarships across academic units. The college also placed first in the College Leaderboard challenge, raising the most gifts among all academic colleges. Overall, the campuswide campaign raised $1,203,741 from 2,262 total gifts.

Faculty receive national recognition

Faculty members within the College of Education and Human Sciences received national recognition over the past year. Highlights include:

 Dr. Ronald Cox Jr., George Kaiser Family Foundation Endowed Chair of Child and Family Resilience; professor of human development and family science; and Cooperative Extension state specialist, received the Board on Human Sciences Outstanding Engagement Award, recognizing exceptional creativity and scholarship in outreach, extension and public service programs.

 Dr. Shiretta Ownbey, professor and faculty fellow, received the Board on Human Sciences Ellen Swallow Richards Public Service Award, recognizing her advancement of human sciences.

 Dr. Kate Mielitz human development and family science assistant professor, was named the Mary Ellen Edmondson Educator of the Year by the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education, honoring her exceptional service through teaching, outreach and mentoring.

 Dr. Kalianne Neumann, assistant professor of learning, design and technologyy, received the 2021 Oklahoma Online Excellence Award in Teaching from the Oklahoma Council for Online Learning Excellence, recognizing excellence in online learning environment design, collaboration with online educators and leadership.

 Dr. Julie Koch, head of the School of Community Health Sciences, Counseling and Counseling Psychology, was elected as an American Psychological Association fellow, an honor recognizing significant impact in psychology at the national level.

 Dr. Jyotsana Sharma, assistant professor of counseling and counseling psychology, was the co-recipient of the 2021 American Counseling Association Research Award for her original research related to Medicare advocacy for aging adults.

 Dr. Jay Dawes, associate professor of applied exercise science, was named 2021 Tactical Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year by the National Strength and Conditioning Association for his contributions to the field, including co-directing the OSU Tactical Fitness and Nutrition Lab.

OSU to launch Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education

In August, Oklahoma State University announced the creation of a new institute aimed at supporting aerospace industry growth in Oklahoma and beyond. The Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE) will bring the state’s aerospace innovation economy together under one umbrella. Objectives include supporting

partnerships between university, commercial, military and government agencies; generating high-tech jobs and cuttingedge research that brings commercial enterprise and military sustainment to support the state; and building the Oklahoma aerospace workforce pipeline and promoting community involvement through K-12 outreach programs focused on STEM connections.

Two doctoral students recognized

Two human development and family science doctoral students have received national recognition for their research.

Clarissa Corkins was selected for a fellowship with the Society for Research in Child Development, an honor that includes a $30,000 stipend to support her research on state early childhood education policy. As one of only two fellows selected nationwide, Corkins will study how Champions of Excellence, an evaluation rubric developed by the Oklahoma State Department of Education for elementary schools, can be adapted for early childhood education programs.

Jennifer Weston was named an Albert Schweitzer fellow, a prestigious honor bestowed to roughly 200 students across the U.S. annually. Weston’s research is dedicated to elders and their families as she studies end-of-life planning, including how families can be proactive in conversations.

OSU fashion design and merchandising ranks high

The OSU fashion design and production and fashion merchandising programs ranked in the top 50 of all schools and colleges in the U.S. for 2021, according to FashionSchools.org. OSU ranked No. 31 in fashion design and No. 35 in fashion merchandising. Within the Southwest region, OSU ranked sixth in fashion design and fifth in fashion

OSU offers new online bachelor’s degree

A new online bachelor’s degree in elementary education offers preparation to teach all subjects for grades 1-8, including mathematics, science, reading/language arts and social studies.

The program is in addition to the existing traditional on-campus bachelor’s in elementary education and is tailored for non-traditional students by providing flexibility to working professionals or those with unique life circumstances.

Health education and promotion major changes to public health

Previously known as health education and promotion, the bachelor of science degree was recently renamed to public health to better reflect the degree’s broad approach to health. The degree incorporates courses like biology and chemistry with behavioral science and theory-based courses. Students can choose between two options: community health and exercise and health.

Nutritional sciences students recognized

Two nutritional sciences doctoral students were nationally recognized for their research.

Christina Sciarrillo received the prestigious Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR) Doctoral Scholarship for $10,000. Alongside faculty advisor Dr. Sam Emerson, Sciarrillo researches whether levels of fat in the blood after a meal can predict cardiovascular and cardiometabolic disease risk.

Christine Walters was named an Emerging Leaders in Nutrition Science Abstract Recognition Award finalist, a program of the American Society for Nutrition. Walters’ abstract, titled “Facilitators and Barriers of Breastfeeding in Post-Emergency Settlements: Qualitative Findings from Uganda,” was in the top 15 percent of more than 800 abstracts submitted by students and postdoctoral fellows. Walters and her colleagues conducted focus group discussions with parents in refugee settlements to identify barriers to breastfeeding.

merchandising. The fashion design and production program also ranked No. 15 among all public fashion design schools in the country.

“We strive for our students to be cutting edge and equipped with the skills our industry needs,” said Dr. Lynn Boorady, head of the Department of Design, Housing and Merchandising.

Eight students receive national scholarships

Calli Cooper, design, housing and merchandising junior, studied at Regent’s University in London and participated in a fashion styling internship this summer courtesy of a prestigious scholarship from the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA). This trip, along with others to New York City, Costa Rica, Western Europe and more, provide students with diverse industry experiences and broaden their career opportunities.

Four design, housing and merchandising students earned prestigious Fashion Group International (FGI) scholarships in recognition of excellence in digital merchandising. Katelyn Allen and Moriah Moody placed first and second respectively in the FGI Digital Merchandising Store Planning and Design scholarship contest, while Eliza Dembinksi and Kendall Minaldi placed first and second respectively in the FGI Digital Merchandising Fashion Portfolio scholarship contest. A total of seven OSU students competed, adapting and expanding projects from classes, internships and Stillwater’s lifestyle magazine ModMuze to create FGI scholarship portfolios.

Lauren Huntely, fashion design and production sophomore, won a prestigious Fashion Scholarship Fund Case Study Scholarship by designing sustainable clothing using scrap materials from commercial clothing production and marketing her plan. Her efforts for the case study-based scholarship earned her $7,500 and networking opportunities with fashion leaders and celebrities across the U.S. Interior design students Mackenzie Erdley and Abby Wilton won scholarships from the Hospitality Industry Network NEWH, the premier networking resource for the hospitality industry.

Clarissa Corkins

Christina Sciarrillo

Jennifer Weston

Christine Walters

Lauren Huntely

Nutritional sciences grad seeks to feed the world

Studying agronomy in Madagascar lit a fire in Dr. Hasina Rakotomanana’s heart for rural food insecurity, as he realized the farmers he worked with were unable to feed their own families.

Determined to make a difference, Rakotomanana left Madagascar on a Fulbright Scholarship to pursue a doctorate in nutritional sciences at Oklahoma State University. Now, his doctoral research has uncovered key characteristics of Malagasy smallholder farmers’ food insecurity.

“As I studied nutrition policy at OSU, I found research opportunities that were concrete and applicable for changing peoples’ lives,” Rakotomanana said. “Now, I can use what I have learned to guide nutrition policy.”

After graduating from OSU in spring 2020, Rakotomanana accepted a position with the United Nations’ World Food Program in Rome. He traces his interest in nutrition to living with Malagasy farmers while studying agronomy at the School of Agronomy and Environmental Sciences in Madagascar. Rotations and field trips sent him throughout the country, but during one internship, he saw firsthand the farmers’ struggle to simply feed their families.

“I thought, we must do something about this,” Rakotomanana said. “It is wrong our cities have access to markets and foods while our farmers struggle. sought to study nutritional sciences, and when couldn’t find such a program in Madagascar, I applied for a Fulbright to come to the U.S.”

At OSU, Rakotomanana developed an interest in maternal and child nutrition. Classes ranging from global nutrition and

food security to maternal and child nutrition prepared him to understand the specific needs of children under the age of 2, an integral time for a child’s overall growth.

He then traveled back to Madagascar to conduct field interviews with rural farmers for his dissertation research.

Rakotomanana’s travels were largely sponsored by the Marilynn Thoma Chair in Human Sciences Endowment, designed to support those faculty who have brought distinction to the college and the university through their enterprising research, commitment to student learning and leadership.

“I went to a region where more than half of the children under the age of 2 were too short for their age due to chronic malnutrition,” Rakotomanana said. “They have very productive agricultural lands, so I wanted to investigate what could be going wrong.”

After interviewing nearly 400 rural Malagasy households, Rakotomanana found each owned less than one acre of land — too small to feed a family. Mothers were aware of their children’s nutritional needs after years of sensitization and outreach, but they lacked the resources to meet those needs.

Now, Rakotomanana’s research could lay a foundation for policy decisions.

“When I first started in 2016, I could literally count on my hands the number of studies from Madagascar about food insecurity and nutrition,” Rakotomanana said. “We are trying to get more awareness for Madagascar, especially from international aid organizations and the Malagasy government, because that shapes nutrition policy.”

ALUMNI SOCIETY CONNECT. ENGAGE. JOIN.

The OSU College of Education and Human Sciences Alumni Society is open to all alumni, donors and friends of the college who are active members of the OSU Alumni Association and want to:

• Engage and network

• Participate in special events and programming

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