MIAMI UNIVERSITY REGIONAL CAMPUSES ALUMNI
CONNECTIONS WINTER 2016
UPCOMING EVENTS Feb. 19, 8:30 a.m.–noon, West Chester, Ohio Professional Development Series: “Leading Through Strengths”
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Hamilton hosts Ohio Chautauqua Living history event to take place June 14-18
March 4 Nursing Professional Development Series: “Ethics in Healthcare,” sponsored by Fort Hamilton Hospital March 10 Oxford, Ohio M.I.A.M.I Women Leadership Symposium March 31 Middletown, Ohio Casper Lecture Series April 1 Hamilton, Ohio Miami University Hamilton Athletic Hall of Fame April 21 Fairfield, Ohio Miami University Nursing Annual Dinner May 25 West Chester, Ohio BIS Career Workshop June 9-12 Oxford, Ohio Miami University Alumni Weekend June 14-18 Hamilton, Ohio Ohio Chautauqua For details visit MiamiAlum.org/ MURALS or contact Sarah Templeton Wilson at templesj@MiamiOH.edu.
Teddy Roosevelt, Marie Curie and a caravan of scholars will be coming to Hamilton June 14-18 for Ohio Chautauqua, a living history program presented by Ohio Humanities. Hamilton is one of four cities statewide selected for the 18th annual Ohio Chautauqua, a unique program of cultural enrichment and education. Each of the five evening performances will open with musical entertainment and feature an actor portraying a historical figure. Following a performance, the actor—still in character—engages the audience in a question-and-answer session. This year, for example, attendees will have an opportunity to ask Teddy Roosevelt what made him go West, and what he really thought of the Rough Riders. Daytime events feature workshops for kids and adult programming at venues throughout the community.
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The old-fashioned, red-andwhite striped tent hosting Ohio Chautauqua's evening events will be set up on Miami's Hamilton Campus. "We will partner with community organizations, including Partners in Prime, the Lane Library, Pyramid Hill, Miami Hamilton Downtown and the Butler County Historical Society to try and get a lot of different audiences from senior citizens to children,” said Sarah Templeton Wilson, assistant director of advancement for the regional campuses, who led the local effort to bring the event to town. Communities must apply for the Ohio Chautauqua in a competitive process that includes a site visit. The Miami Hamilton Campus team “knocked it out of the ballpark” with their bid to host the event said Melissa Ricksecker, who coordinates the program for Ohio Humanities. Continued on page 5 1
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Regional student spotlight For Kaitlin McCoy ’15, the sky is the limit Like for many Regional Campus students, Kaitlin McCoy's pursuit of a college degree was a long, hard road. A 2005 graduate of Badin High School, the Hamilton resident originally went to Ohio University as a special education major. After two-and-a-half years she transferred to Miami University so she could work and be closer to home. After the birth of her daughter, Khloe, now almost five years old, McCoy was away for another two-and-a-half years before enrolling on the Hamilton Campus to study health information technology. “I didn’t know anything about computers when I started,” she said. “So it was a little intimidating. I never thought I’d be where I am today.” McCoy worked nights as a bartender until 3 a.m., then went to her morning job as a student associate in Miami Middletown's Center for Teaching and Learning. She would sometimes take Khloe to her night classes with popcorn and a
movie to watch on her computer. The professors were very understanding, McCoy said. “I got the sense of being part of a family here.” Despite her jobs, her classes and the rigors of single motherhood, Kaitlin was accepted into the National Society of Leadership Kaitlin McCoy ’15 delivers her speech for the college recognition and Success and earned ceremony. a scholarship from the Computer and Information Technology make the Dean’s List, balancing two jobs Department. and a kid, but as long as you put your mind to it, you can do it." Faculty from the Center for Learning and Teaching recommended her as the student She plans to stay involved with the Miami speaker for commencement. Regionals and to encourage others. “People say that the sky’s the limit. I didn’t believe “We are a diverse group at the Regionals, that for the longest time, but now I know and that’s important for people to know,” it’s true.” McCoy said. “I didn’t think I’d be able to
In the community Miami Middletown offer high school students experience in forensic science Thirty junior and senior science students from Cincinnati Christian High School recently got first-hand exposure to a little Miami University Middletown TLC—thin layer chromatography, that is. The students were second-year biology students seeking hands-on science experience as part of a community outreach initiative. Using a fictional scenario, students "investigated" the case of a 24-year-old graduate student who was found dead. There were no signs of foul play, but there was a bottle of over-the-counter pain remedy beside his bed. The students used MIAMIALUM.ORG
thin layer chromatography to identify which analgesic drugs were present. Janet Marshall, chemistry lecturer and coordinator of the forensic science program, along with Steve Fiester, visiting assistant professor in microbiology, and Howard Vail, chemistry lecturer, guided the students through their forensic chemistry and biology experiments. “We choose activities that are appealing to high school students and doable for them in the time we have,” said Marshall. Continued on page 4 2
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Alumni spotlight Miami Hamilton alumnus puts education on the map Two years on the Miami University Hamilton Campus made the world come alive for Robert Dulli ’80, inspiring his transformation from a laborer and pipefitter to the deputy director of the National Geographic Education Foundation.
Hamilton,” he said. “That was a fun thing to be involved in, and it helped change the way I saw life. “I wanted to teach elementary kids about the environment, and how to see the world they live in.” He transferred to the Oxford campus in his junior year and became a geography major. During that time, someone handed him a brochure about an internship with National Geographic. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he took a 10-week internship and was offered a job in 1982.
Robert Dulli ’80
A Hamilton native and a 1965 graduate of Garfield High School, Dulli said he was not quite ready for college at the time. He pursued other options for a while, including a stint in the U.S. Army and an apprenticeship as a pipefitter, which became his first career. He made the leap into college at age 29, and as soon as he walked into the offices of the Hamilton Campus, he found a home. “Once I started taking classes, I wanted to take them all,” he said. “I wanted to know everything, so I enrolled in everything from chemistry to drawing." But when he took Professor Don Kaufman’s environmental biology class, he found his calling. “We started the first recycling center in
“I can’t imagine anything bigger for a geography student,” he said. “There were endless opportunities there. My goal was to go in and become the chief cartographic designer for all their maps.” As it turned out, he was on a path to something bigger. In a short time, he found himself assisting National Geographic President Gilbert Grovsner in his duties as vice-chairman of Ronald Reagan’s President’s Commission on America’s Outdoors. Once he had an office on the executive floor, he stayed there and enjoyed a 33-
year career with one of the world’s most prestigious institutions, all while keeping his dream of teaching children about the world they live in. For its centennial in 1988, National Geographic started a $20 million foundation to support geography education in the nation’s schools. Dulli eventually took leadership of the foundation, which is now worth about $200 million, he said. “We started putting geography back in the school curriculum,” he said. “We partnered with universities across the country who sent us teachers to train. Now we have Geographic Alliances in every state, and those teachers are sitting on curriculum committees. Through this, we now have geography standards in every state.” Dulli returned to the Hamilton Campus last spring to speak at the College of Professional Studies and Applied Sciences divisional recognition ceremony. “I want them to understand what the two years at Miami Hamilton meant to me,” Dulli said. "It can open the world to them and give them a chance to do something they never thought they could do.”
Miami Regionals help make #MoveInMiami a success Miami University's second #MoveInMiami day-of-giving event was a big success, and alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends of the Miami Regional campuses were key contributors. The overall participation-based effort raised $672,757 from 3,281 donors, topping the 2014 total. Dean G. Michael Pratt spurred the momentum with a matching gift challenge.
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#MOVEINMIAMI REGIONAL CAMPUS CONTRIBUTION BY THE NUMBERS: » 3 78 gifts » $ 19,146.51 raised » 7 5 regional campus funds supported » $ 3,780 matched by Dean Pratt at $10 per donor
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Regionals offer new BSC degree Bachelor's degree explores small business One of the many new employmentfocused degree programs now being offered at Miami University Regionals will be the bachelor of science in commerce (BSC).
Since 2011, the Miami Regional campuses have introduced 10 new bachelor's degree programs with a focus on employment. Seven new programs, including two master's programs, are in development to debut in 2016 and 2017.
The first BSC major, small business management, lets students pursue an in-depth examination of small businesses built on a foundation of courses in traditional business areas such as accounting, management and marketing. The bachelor of science in commerce degree is designed to accommodate students straight out of high school, adult learners or transfer students, associate degree holders in business or other majors, and military veterans. Offered through the Department of Business Technology, the BSC features Miami’s renowned liberal arts foundation backed by a hands-on, applied education. This degree has no affiliation with the Farmer School of Business in Oxford and
New bachelor's programs
is available entirely and exclusively at Miami’s regional campuses. Regional campus students benefit from one of the lowest regional tuition rates in Ohio, with the convenience, comfort and accessibility of campuses close to home. Flexible class scheduling, online course options, and extensive student support will provide students the credibility and competitive advantage that comes with a Miami University bachelor’s degree. The new BSC degree helps start a big future in small business.
IN THE COMMUNITY (continued from pg. 2) Offering high school students collegelevel lab exposure is good community outreach as well as a recruiting tool.
level experiments. All of the students are college-bound and about one-third are expressing interest in science.
Marshall and her colleagues were recently awarded a grant from the American Chemical Society that will allow them to host 100 students from local high schools for a Chemistry Education and Career Day in the spring.
“I want them exposed to a forensics program at a college, working and experimenting with forensics in a college lab setting," she said. "Something like this might solidify a student's decision who didn’t know there was an opportunity like this locally.
Kim Stone, the group’s biology teacher, said the class has spent the first quarter in the study of forensics, including blood spatter, hair and fiber analysis, but does not have the equipment to do higher MIAMIALUM.ORG
NEW REGIONAL DEGREE PROGRAMS
“I had one of the parents email me saying that their daughter loved what we’ve been doing in class and was thinking about going that direction.”
2011 Nursing Engineering Technology Integrative Studies 2012 Health Information Technology 2013 Criminal Justice 2014 Forensic Science & Investigation Civic and Regional Development 2015 Commerce Information Technology Liberal Studies
Programs in development 2016 Master's in Criminal Justice Applied Health Communication Applied Social Research 2017 Psychological Sciences Communication Master's in Nursing Community Arts 2018 English concept Science concept History concept
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Regional campus events Join us for fun and enlightenment this spring THE MICHAEL J. COLLIGAN HISTORY PROJECT EVENTS
The Michael J. Colligan History Project is sponsoring a series of three plays at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts. For more information, call 513-785-3277 or visit ColliganProject.org. Tuesday, Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m. Fitton Center for Creative Arts “Henry Ford: Fit to a ‘T’” Set in 1932, Henry Ford is the focus of this interactive play. Ford talks to car dealers about his past, the new Ford V-8 and the future of soybeans. Tuesday, April 5, 7:30 p.m. Harry T. Wilks Conference Center “Ernie Pyle & Americans at War” James Tobin, Miami University professor and winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award in biography, discusses Ernie Pyle’s critical role in shaping popular perceptions of the war effort and the image of the American soldier. Thursday, May 5, 7:30 p.m. Fitton Center for Creative Arts “Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and the Lost (?) Generation” Donald A. Daiker, Miami University Professor Emeritus, examines Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s lovehate relationship that began when they met in 1925 at the Dingo Bar in Paris.
VERITY TRADITIONS EVENTS
All Verity Traditions programs are free and open to the public. A light meal is provided 15 minutes before each program starts. Thursday, March 10, noon “Let’s Take a Hike—And Do it Safely” Get ready for your next hike. Bill Deitzer will outline what to bring and where to go locally as well as hiking safety, essentials, conditioning and trail etiquette. Monday, March 21, 6 p.m. “An Evening of Music” Enjoy the Bluegrass Music of Trey Hensley and Rob Ickes. Sponsored by Miami Regionals Artist Series Friday, April 8, 6 p.m. “An Introduction to China” Four Chinese international students from Miami’s iNTRA program share presentations on their home cities and provinces. Tuesday, April 19, 6 p.m. “Trivia Night with Richard O. Jones” Bring up to five of your smartest friends and form a team to compete for fabulous prizes—and priceless bragging rights—in the Professor Knowitall Trivia Challenge.
SPRING REGIONAL ARTIST SERIES Saturday, Feb. 27, 7:30 p.m. Miami Hamilton Campus Sam Baker & Gretchen Peters Friday, March 18, 7:30 p.m. Miami Middletown Campus Patty Griffin, Sara Watkins and Anais Mitchell Saturday, April 9, 7:30 p.m. Miami Middletown Campus Southern Troubadours in the Round— Paul Thorn, Ruthie Foster and Joe Ely Saturday, April 16, 7:30 p.m. Miami Hamilton Campus The Steeldrivers For more information Contact Howard Epstein at epsteihr@MiamiOH.edu Tickets Can be purchased at by calling 513-529-3200 or 513 727-3412, visiting MiamiOH.edu/Boxoffice (fees apply), or in person at the cashier’s office on the Middletown Campus.
MIAMI HAMILTON DOWNTOWN EVENTS Miami Hamilton Downtown is located at 221 High St., Hamilton, in the historic Robinson-Schwenn Building. For weekly Miami Hamilton Downtown Events go to Regionals.MiamiOH.edu/ MUHD/Middletown Campus.
OHIO CHAUTAUQUA (continued from pg. 1) "Ohio Humanities is thrilled to bring Ohio Chautauqua to Hamilton," Ricksecker said. "The community is undergoing an arts renaissance and has a strong interest in history. Hamilton in partnership with Miami University is completely positive all the way.” Hosting a Chautauqua coincides with a movement by the regional campuses to expand their Southwestern Ohio impact and generate more alumni involvement MIAMIALUM.ORG
through MURALS (Miami University Regional Alumni and Students), especially with family-oriented programming. “Attendees will enjoy the events while also engaging with Hamilton amenities. It will be a wonderful experience for families interested in history,” Hamilton City Council member Kathleen Klink, who was part of the site visit committee, said. "Ohio and Hamilton are key contributors to the history of our region and state." 5
MIAMI UNIVERSITY REGIONAL CAMPUSES ALUMNI
CONNECTIONS
In this edition »O hio Chautauqua coming to Hamilton June 14-18 • Pg. 1 Hamilton is one of four cities statewide selected for the 18th annual Ohio Chautauqua, a unique living history program presented by Ohio Humanities.
»S tudent profile: Kaitlin McCoy '15 • Pg. 2 Commencement speaker balances two jobs and single motherhood on the way to a bachelor's in health information technology.
»H igh school students experience forensic science at MUM • Pg. 2 Thirty junior and senior high school science students recently got first-hand exposure to the forensic sciences at Miami Middletown.
»A lumni Spotlight: Robert Dulli ’80 • Pg. 3 From Miami Hamilton to National Geographic, alumnus puts geography education on the map.
»R egionals offer new bachelor's degree in commerce • Pg. 4 Degree program is one of 10 new bachelor's programs launched since 2011.
» Miami Regionals spring event schedules • Pg. 5
Murstein Alumni Center 725 E. Chestnut St. Oxford, OH 45056-2480 Miami University
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