[message from the dean]
Celebrating 125 Years of Excellence
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t gives me great pleasure to dedicate this issue of the Athenaeum to the transformational gift given to our college by Violet L. Patton. Her benevolence makes it possible for us to pursue endeavors that are worthy of the name of Gladys W. and David H. Patton. We continue to strive to engage in legacy-bearing activities in our teaching, our research and our outreach, and we believe that you will find that the stories contained in this issue help enhance and build on the college’s legacy. An important feature of this Athenaeum is the full story about Dr. Violet L. Patton, beginning on page 14. The story details her education, her work and her lifelong contribution to the fields of art and education. In recognition of that work, we were pleased to have Ohio University’s President Roderick J. McDavis award her the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (see page 19). We consider Dr. Patton’s gift to be a wonderful anniversary present, as we were proud to mark our 125th Anniversary in 2011. We celebrated in style with a full weekend of events, including a special gala performance given by renowned jazz artist Nancy Wilson and a special tribute to Patton. The philanthropy of dedicated alumni and their gifts from the smallest to the largest are what helps to sustain and to build our legacy. In every issue of the magazine, we strive to share with you the voices of our alumni, and this year, we highlight Marilyn Allen on page 45. We’re always pleased to feature those individuals that give to the college, and this year we’d also like to welcome aboard our new development officer, Mr. Tim Binegar (see page 23). We continue to provide our students with unique opportunities and experiences that live up to our legacy, and in this issue you’ll see some of those activities that our students are engaged in, such as Space Camp (see page 20). A regular feature in the Athenaeum is the “In Their Own Words” section, which this year features alumna Hayley McDonough. Through her story on page 44 about “The Road Less Traveled,” Ms. McDonough represents the bobcat spirit of giving back and leaving a community better than we found it. In The Patton College, we emphasize the importance of engaging in community, and we believe our community is large – it begins at home, then moves to local, state-wide and national communities. Ms. McDonough is exemplary in giving
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back to community as we define it. The recent realignment of the college enables us to embrace new students and alumni from Recreation Sport Pedagogy (Recreation Studies, Coaching Education and Physical Education) and from Human and Consumer Sciences (Family and Consumer Sciences Education, Retail Merchandising, and Restaurant, Hotel & Tourism). I hope our new alums received my letter this past summer welcoming you to The Patton College. We want you to feel at home in your new college; the Athenaeum is one way for you to stay connected. It is our desire that all of our alumni are able to keep abreast of what’s happening in the departments, and the magazine features some of these unique activities on pages 7-13. It’s not only the human services faculty and programs that we are pleased to have inherited, but we also are proud to be the home for the Child Development Center and the active learning that takes place at the center. The CDC’s annual garden party is a special annual event that I always enjoy attending. To learn more about the garden party and its impact on young minds (see page 47). A cornerstone of what we do in the college is demonstrated through our research, and we want to highlight the research that our faculty produce, as well as the research that both undergraduate and graduate students have the opportunity to participate in while they’re here. Page 46 features three examples of this work, including that of one of our former students, MacKenzie
King, who was engaged in a project that helped launch her career in the fashion industry. Because of her research, she received an internship at the well-known clothing company, American Eagle, and she currently works full-time at their headquarters in Philadelphia. One of the special highlights and delights for me this year was the opportunity to meet President Barack Obama. The White House granted Ohio University’s president, Roderick McDavis, the opportunity to meet privately with the president of the United States, and he was allowed to invite no more than three individuals to attend this meeting. I was honored to be included, along with first lady Deborah McDavis and Vice President of Student Affairs, Ryan Lombardi (pictured above). It was a great and humbling privilege to meet President Obama, but what was equally important to me was that of all the individuals that President McDavis could have thought to invite to be in that private meeting, he chose his dean of education to join him. His consideration is an indication of Ohio University’s
values and our president’s true commitment to the field of education. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge the volunteers that work with me to advance our mission of providing legacybearing activities in the college. I particularly want to recognize the co-chairs of the Dean’s Circle of Engagement: Linda Reed and Dr. Arthur Stellar. Please also note the insert that speaks to our priorities for the college’s Promise Campaign; I’d like to give special thanks to the campaign’s co-chairs, Charlotte Westerhaus and Mike “Scoop” Jackson, as well as the other members of the committee listed on the insert. Our goal was to raise $41 million by the end of the campaign; to date we’ve raised $37.4 million (91% of our goal). We have two more years until the campaign ends, and we look forward to your continued support. We will not cease to strive to make you proud of your college. We look forward to sharing again with you our activities in the upcoming 2013 issue of Athenaeum, which will feature the theme: Designing our Future Through Engagement, Inquiry and Action.
Renée A. Middleton, Dean The Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education If you would like to support any of the initiatives that you read about, please contact me at middletonr@ohio.edu.