Wright State Magazine 2025 (Archive (Historical Records))

Wright State MAG A Z I N E

JUST GETTING STARTED 2025

Let us reintroduce you to your Wright State University. From new partnerships to new programs, Wright State is ever changing to meet the needs of our students and our region.

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A REFLECTION OF OUR PAST Over 120 years ago, our innovative namesakes took a chance and conducted the first flight. In 1967, Wright State University was established to bolster the already thriving innovation in Dayton.

We take a moment to pay homage to the spirit of innovation, sheer determination, and grit that formed our beloved Wright State University and reflect on how far we have come since then. From established programs with a proven track record of success to new majors and minors developed to boost the pipeline of graduates for the region’s workforce, Wright State University’s colleges, Lake Campus, and Boonshoft School of Medicine are always striving to better meet the needs of students and employers.

FROM THE PRESIDENT PRESIDENT Susan Edwards, Ph.D. PRESIDENT AND CEO, WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION R. Scott Rash VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT Bill Shepard ’91, ’15 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALUMNI RELATIONS Greg Scharer ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING Nichole Rustad ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, ALUMNI AND DONOR MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Brooke Johnson Leppla ’05, ’11 PROJECT MANAGER Dennis Bova DESIGN Boom Crate Studios CONTRIBUTORS Mark Anderson ’09 Dennis Bova Andrew Call Sarah Cavender ’20 Amanda J. Earnest-Reitmann Jessica Graue ’04, ’09 Matthew Hinds ’10 Kara Lynch ’17 Megan McMorris Bob Mihalek Kim Patton Teresa Richter Greg Scott Chris Snyder Anthony Shoemaker ’98 Jane Wildermuth Chris Wydman ’94, ’97 PHOTOGRAPHY Erin Pence SPECIAL THANKS TO Emily ‘Bing’ Bingham ’16 Amy Jones ’06 Kathy Kuntz Elaine Pruner Cristie Scharer Dave Stuart ’04 Wright State Alumni Association Board Wright State University Foundation Board

This is a publication of the Wright State University Foundation and the Wright State Alumni Association for the alumni, donors, and friends of Wright State University. Submit information, comments, and letters to: Wright State Alumni Association 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway Dayton, Ohio 45435 937-775-2620 magazine@wright.edu

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WRIGHT STATE MAGAZINE | 20 25

Celebrating Excellence with an Eye Toward the Future Since our founding, the university and our students have been making an impact on the region, in the state, and even across the nation.

If you weren’t watching, you missed arguably the most exciting game of the year. Wright State men’s baseball knocked out Vanderbilt, the #1 seeded team in the NCAA tournament. It was a historic upset in baseball regionals, bringing national attention to the talent, drive, and excellence of our team. I could not be prouder of these student athletes.

At our Lake Campus, students are excelling in the classroom and earning national recognition for their athletic achievements. Kaylie Dameron graduated this May with an Associate's degree in Graphic Design. She finished her athletic career as the 2024 USCAA Individual National Championship in cross-country with an impressive time of 23:03, placing 51 seconds ahead of the next competitor.

Kaylie was also named a USCAA First Team All-American and was a member of the National All-Academic Team. Her achievements exemplify all that we foster at Wright State.

Academically, Wright State is also nationally recognized, and we are proud of the impact we are making in health care.

According to the 2025 U.S. News & World Report, Wright State is ranked #1 in Ohio for producing primary care physicians—a clear reflection of our enduring commitment to serve the region and state. Our students come from Ohio, train in Ohio, and ultimately give back by caring for Ohio’s communities.

In this spirit of progress, I am pleased to welcome Dr. Raj Mitra, the first-ever dual role dean of the Boonshoft School of Medicine and chief academic officer at Premier Health. This groundbreaking partnership will unite academic and clinical leadership to advance regional health care delivery, grow our medical and nursing workforce, and strengthen our research enterprise—ensuring our students benefit from an enriched learning

environment and that patients across the region gain better access to specialized care.

Today, with renewed momentum and strengthened financial stability, we look ahead with clarity and confidence. As you may recall, the university has been following a Bridge Strategic Plan. In March, a group convened to author a new strategic plan that will take Wright State into the next decade.

Our new strategic plan represents more than a road map—it’s a reflection of our identity, our aspirations, and our promise to the communities we serve. Anchored by five core objectives—creating transformational student experiences, cultivating success through vibrant campus life, forging lasting partnerships, advancing knowledge, and ensuring sustainable growth—we are building on our proud legacy and preparing for an even brighter future.

We’ve come a long way, and we are just getting started. I am proud of what we have accomplished and energized by what lies ahead. Together, we will continue to shape a stronger Wright State and a stronger Ohio— for this generation and the next.

Best wishes,

Sue Edwards, Ph.D. President @WSUPrezSue

CONTENTS

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F E AT U R ES

10 A Game-Changer Wright State and Premier Health collaboration leads to a brighter health care future.

14 Up, Up, and Away Aviation program takes wing with a nod to our namesake.

18 Career Hub A comfortable, professional center with a new emphasis on early job guidance.

22 Just Getting Started

Experience a snapshot of updates from each college on campus.

D EPA R T M EN T S 6

CAMPUS HEADLINES

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LIFE AT THE L AKE

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THROWBACK

36

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

40

FAREWELLS

44

CL ASS NOTES

46

ALUMNI PROFILE

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FROM THE STACKS

ON THE COVER This issue is meant to be a reintroduction to Wright State University. Maybe you have stayed connected or maybe you haven't engaged for quite some time. But either way, we hope you will see how far we have come from our start to where we are now, much like the symbolism of our cover art of the journey from first flight to present.

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WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION

WRIGHT STATE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Linda Black-Kurek ’78, CHAIR Loghan Young ’18, ’20, VICE CHAIR & SECRETARY Kristina Kean ’96, TREASURER R. Scott Rash, FOUNDATION PRESIDENT & CEO (ex-officio)

Christopher Brookshire ’11, ’14, PRESIDENT Amanda Opicka ’07, ’07, VICE PRESIDENT Mary Murphy ’89, SECRETARY Keith Meyer ’01, TREASURER

BOARD MEMBERS

BOARD MEMBERS

Anupam Bedi ’97, ’99 Dr. Samia Borchers ’81 Christopher Brookshire ’11, ’14 Michael Clark ’88 Roberta Cornist-Bordeneau (university student representative) Michael Daniels David Deptula ’80 (immediate past chair) Holly Di Flora Susan Edwards, Ph.D. (ex-officio) Doug Fecher Karla Garrett Harshaw ’84, ’13 Janet Heppard ’81 Doug Hull ’75, ’78, ’85 Julie Jacobs ’04 Peter Julian ’71 Vercie Lark ’86 Gary McCullough ’81

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Hernan Olivas Randy Phillips ’82 Dr. Thomas Proctor ’86, ’88, ’93 Sharon Honaker Rab ’75 Bob Reynolds ’88 Dr. Michael Robertson ’11, ’14, ’16 Danielle Rolfes ’97 Tom Sheehan Matthew Watson ’07 Brittany Whiteside ’06

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Dan Abrahamowicz (ex-officio) James Augustine ’83 Ben Ausdenmoore ’08, ’11 Elizabeth Ball ’08, ’10 Sam Bernard ’11 David Bowman ’97 Fernando Browning ’12 A'Maria Carter ’20, ’21 Teresa Ebersole ’08 Christopher Hogan ’11 Mike Howard ’11 Karen Hunt ’86 Stephanie Keinath ’06 Gina Keucher ’88, ’09 Logan Krause ’19 Anna Monnett ’83, ’87 Caroline Quiett ’14 Dr. Michael Robertson ’11, ’14, ’16

Topaz Sampson-Mills ’15 Greg Scharer (ex-officio) Matt Sherwood ’11, ’13, ’17, ’22 Daniel Tieman ’84, ’87

Sept 30 – Oct 1

SAVE THE DATE!

SCAN TO GIVE

Give back to the PACK PACK!!

wright.edu/wrightday2give WRIGHT.EDU/ALUMNI

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CAMPUS HEADLINES Wright State to launch mobile street medicine project for underserved patients in Dayton Wright State’s Boonshoft School of Medicine is partnering with Premier Health to deliver street medicine, mobile, community-based care, to individuals facing substance use disorders and addiction.

Using Premier Health's Mobile Clinic, Wright State physicians, students, and fellows will offer primary and preventive care, behavioral health support, substance use screening, and case management. Street medicine is a low-barrier, innovative approach designed to reach people experiencing housing insecurity and complex health challenges.

“The idea of street medicine is to provide the lowest-possible-barrier quality care, which often means meeting people where they’re at,” said Marietta Orlowski, Ph.D., chair of population and public health sciences.

FACULT Y MEMBERS ANNA MURLE Y SQUIBB, LEF T, SYDNE Y SILVERSTEIN, AND MARIE T TA ORLOWSKI OVERSEE THE DAY TON STREE T MEDICINE PROJECT

Fans pack the Nutter Center for Stars, Stripes, Flight Classic Wright State basketball fans packed the Nutter Center to watch the Raiders defeat the Air Force Academy Falcons 70-54 during the inaugural Stars, Stripes, Flight Classic in November 2024.

The game attracted 9,672 fans to the Nutter Center and served as the kickoff event for the Big Hoopla, the activities surrounding the NCAA Tournament’s First Four.

The Stars, Stripes, Flight Classic celebrated the region’s veterans and active-duty military with an Air Force swearing-in ceremony at halftime. T-shirts were also distributed to all in attendance.

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Wright State appoints new leaders Raj Mitra, Wright State and Premier Health

Raj Mitra, M.D., a nationally recognized expert in rehabilitation medicine and pain management, was appointed dean of the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine and chief academic officer at Premier Health. He is the first to hold the new dual role responsible for driving ground-breaking initiatives through a more integrated delivery of academic and clinical services at both institutions.

Mitra’s appointment is the latest milestone in an unprecedented alignment and enhanced affiliation between Wright State and Premier Health. Mitra previously served as professor of medicine and associate dean of clinical affairs at the University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Medicine and chief medical officer at UCF Health.

Jim Denniston, Appointed provost of Wright State University

Denniston joined Wright State in 2022 as the founding dean of the College of Health, Education, and Human Services. Under his leadership, the college developed its first strategic plan; restructured into six schools to enhance student services and outcomes; and launched the Aviation Science and Technology program.

Denniston received his Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from the State University of New York at Binghamton, his master's degree in experimental psychology from Bucknell University, and a bachelor's degree in psychology from New York University.

“Wright State’s mission to transform the lives of students and serve our region resonates with my passion for expanding educational opportunities and fostering academic excellence,” said Denniston.

Subhashini Ganapathy, College of Graduate Programs Dean and Vice President for Research

Subhashini Ganapathy, Ph.D., was appointed dean of the College of Graduate Programs and Vice President for Research. Ganapathy champions a student-first approach by creating an academic experience underscored by compelling curriculum and training opportunities, being relevant to regional and national workforce needs and maintaining accreditation and high-quality academic programs.

Previously, she was chair of Wright State’s Department of Biomedical, Industrial, and Human Factors Engineering. Ganapathy joined Wright State’s College of Engineering and Computer Science in 2011 after working as a senior user experience researcher at the Intel Corporation.

Joylynn Brown, Director of Athletics

Joylynn Brown, a longtime leader of Wright State athletics and a former coach and studentathlete, was named director of athletics after serving in an interim role.

The first woman athletic director in Wright State history, she assumed the full-time athletic director position after serving a variety of roles on the athletics administration team since 2014, most recently as deputy director of athletics and senior woman administrator.

“I want every student who leaves Wright State to feel valued and have a sense of belonging to something larger than themselves,” she said. “By following the holistic model, we have established and implemented more avenues for our student-athletes to be successful. I am surrounded by a strong team of administrators, staff, and coaches who are all in on creating an amazing experience in our department.”

WRIGHT STATE MAGAZINE | 20 25 R AJ MITR A

JIM DENNISTON

SUBHASHINI GANAPATHY

JOYLYNN BROWN

Wright State and Dayton Children’s Hospital expand longtime partnership Wright State University expanded its longstanding partnership with Dayton Children’s Hospital to further develop and grow the pediatric clinical workforce and enhance research aimed at improving children’s health outcomes in the Dayton region.

Wright State’s Boonshoft School of Medicine and Dayton Children’s Hospital partner to provide the Integrated Pediatric Residency program and fellowships in pediatric emergency and hospital medicine.

As part of their medical education, all Wright State medical students complete their required pediatric rotations at Dayton Children’s, making this partnership essential to their training and success. Many Dayton Children’s physicians also serve on the Boonshoft School of Medicine faculty.

Through this expanded partnership, Wright State and Dayton Children’s will work together to: • Grow and develop the clinical workforce by increasing the number of primary care pediatricians, building additional clinical workforce training capacity and upskilling in-career clinicians.

• Increase research focused on regional children’s health priorities, including maternal health and infant mortality, chronic disease, and mental health.

• Expand services in under served areas with a focus on primary care deserts.

“As Dayton’s public university, Wright State is committed to training the next generation of physicians who will positively impact the communities we serve,” said Wright State President Sue Edwards, Ph.D. “Our expanded partnership with Dayton Children’s Hospital marks a transformative step—enhancing clinical training opportunities for our medical students and residents while improving access to highquality pediatric care.”

DAY TON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

Enrollment climbs for the third consecutive year The number of first-time undergraduate students who enrolled at Wright State University in fall 2024 increased 17.5% compared to fall 2023 and 44% over the last three years. Wright State welcomed 2,012 first-time undergraduate students for the fall 2024 semester, compared to 1,713 last year and 1,394 students in the fall of 2021.

It was the third consecutive year the number of first-time students at Wright State increased by more than 10%.

For the fall 2024 semester, the total student headcount at Wright State’s Dayton and Lake campuses was 11,822, a 7.12% increase compared to the fall of 2023.

It was also the third consecutive year total enrollment has increased at Wright State.

“Our fall enrollment is another indicator of Wright State’s continued momentum and success,” said Susan Schaurer, vice president for enrollment management. “College must be affordable, and we have one of the lowest undergraduate tuition rates in the state. Wright State is committed to providing an affordable high-quality education, and we are thrilled that students and families are recognizing the value of a Wright State degree.”

The retention rate for 2023 first-year students on the Dayton Campus was 68.4%, an increase of 5.6% from the fall of 2022 and an institutional record for first-year retention.

Wright State gives Air Force researchers more access to work on campus Researchers from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) have access to work throughout Wright State University’s campus thanks to an expanded partnership agreement.

The agreement builds on a successful initiative launched in 2022 that gave Air Force researchers access to office and lab spaces in Wright State’s Neuroscience Engineering Collaboration Building.

WPAFB personnel were given access to other areas of campus, including labs, classrooms, office space, and even on-campus housing.

Wright State University President Sue Edwards, Ph.D., said the agreement demonstrates the university’s commitment to supporting the base and the region.

“Wright State, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and WrightPatterson Air Force Base all benefit from our close partnership,” she said. “This partnership offers Wright State students and faculty handson experience through internships, cooperative programs and research projects while supporting workforce development for AFRL and WPAFB. By linking academic expertise with cutting-edge research and realworld applications, the collaboration creates a robust ecosystem for innovation, talent cultivation, and contributions to national security.”

WPAFB RESE ARCHER UTILIZING WRIGHT STATE L AB SPACE

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L I F E AT T H E L A K E

Lake Campus celebrates one year of Lowdy STUDENTS WITH L AKE CAMPUS MASCOT LOWDY

BY SARAH CAVENDER ’20

IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE THE ARRIVAL OF LOWDY LAKER, THE LAKE CAMPUS MASCOT.

The campus community continues to embrace the figure, rooted in a long-standing myth.

“Lowdy was introduced to the Laker community on March 14, 2024,” said Jill Puthoff, the campus’s director of marketing and communications. “Lowdy has helped bring joy, fun, and laughter to the Lake Campus community by appearing in the hallways, athletic competitions, and events on campus.”

Lowdy is based on the legend of the Hoedag of Grand Lake. For more than a century, that mythical creature has lurked in Grand Lake St. Marys.

After finding the courage to rise out of the dark waters, Lowdy is thrilled to become an integral part of our Laker community and inspire students to excel in the classroom and on the field.

The name “Lowdy Laker” is meant to be a play on Dayton’s Rowdy Raider. This name helps bridge Lowdy and Rowdy, and by extension the two campuses they represent, together as a family.

The name and look were announced during an event at the Lake Campus in March 2024.

Puthoff said Lowdy keeps up with the latest trends, including the Renegade and Savage Love (TikTok dances), and enjoys smashing home runs as a spare-time activity. Favorite colors? Green and gold, naturally.

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New basketball program part of expanded sports offerings Wright State University’s Lake Campus is adding to its athletic roster with the launch of a men’s basketball team, marking a significant milestone for the campus as it continues to expand its sports programs.

The basketball program, which will begin play in the fall of 2025, joins the newly revived women’s volleyball team and the cross country teams, rounding out the campus's growing sports offerings.

Previously, the Lake Campus only had a baseball program after the pandemic led to the suspension of several sports.

The return of these programs is not just a return to tradition, but also a recognition of the growing interest in athletics at the Lake Campus. Slaton, who brings a wealth of experience from coaching at high-level camps such as Hoop Group and AllAcademic Basketball, is spearheading the efforts.

Over the spring, the recruitment process gained significant momentum. "We’ve gotten four guys to commit here in probably the last 10 days,” Slaton said.

The Lake Campus is the only regional campus in Ohio that offers housing.

Zen Den and workstations available for students in upgraded Student Success Center The Student Success Center at Lake Campus has undergone a significant transformation, moving to a larger space and offering a

variety of services aimed at enhancing the student experience.

One of the standout features of the newly upgraded space is the introduction of the Zen Den—a designated relaxation area designed to provide students with a peaceful, quiet retreat.

According to Jamon Flowers, director of the Technology Student Success Center at Lake Campus Library, the Zen Den has quickly become a popular addition.

“There are computer stations, cubicles for groups or individuals, and our newest addition is our Zen Den,” Flowers said.

Since its launch, the Zen Den has received glowing feedback from students and faculty. With a goal of supporting students’ mental health and overall wellbeing, this quiet space provides a chance for individuals to recharge, making it a valuable resource on campus.

The center, now located in 230 Dwyer Hall, also boasts new amenities designed to support academic success. Among these are walls of whiteboards ideal for collaborative brainstorming, a spacious lounge with new couches, and access to tutoring services for students who would like academic assistance.

“This is for students to come in and to sit down to relax or come to a space where they know if they need help, somebody [will be] there to help them [with tutoring],” Flowers added. “Students are more prone to come in now. The previous space wasn’t big enough for students to spread out. In our new space, students can do that, and it also has lots of windows. It’s brighter.”

THROWBACK The moat: history and revival

RENDERING OF THE MOAT RE VITALIZ ATION

STUDENTS JUMPING IN THE MOAT

BY C H R I S W Y D M A N

The fountain pool outside Allyn Hall, lovingly known as "the moat," has long been a central gathering place for Wright State students.

In the early days of Wright State, it served as the hub of activity for campus life. On a typical day, the campus quad would be abuzz with activity as the de facto hangout spot for students between classes. They would sit along the moat, socializing with classmates, eating lunch, doing homework, or maybe lounging on the central lawn for a Frisbee toss or a quick nap.

The moat also served as the backdrop of many notable events and traditions in the university's history, including Wright State's first commencement ceremony, social activist Abbie Hoffman's campus visit, political rallies and demonstrations, the first October Daze and May Daze student festivals, Greek Week activities including fraternity chariot races, and the infamous Freshman Day tradition of upper-class students tossing first-year Raiders into the moat.

While many of these traditions have passed, the moat serves as a reminder of the past days of campus, when the

quad served as Wright State’s doorstep and the center of campus activities.

The appearance of the moat was recently returned to its former glory with a fresh coat of light blue paint, restored reflecting pool, and a new fountain, serving as a small symbol of a beautiful campus coming back to life.

STUDENT GROUP FROLICKING IN THE MOAT

For more information about the Wright State University Special Collections and Archives, visit libraries.wright.edu/special.

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A GAMECHANGER University, Premier Health collaboration leads to a brighter health care future

BY GREG SCOT T

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L

eaders for Premier Health and Wright State University are taking their longstanding relationship to the next level with an alliance that will benefit the Dayton region for at least another three decades.

Sessions between key leaders who met weekly for more than a year generated a proposal for an enhanced affiliation that is being referred to as a regional game changer. The two organizations are aiming for a transformative impact, with an agreement that highlights a shared commitment to excellence in education, workforce and economic development, research, clinical program development, and community health. It will also improve the Dayton region’s access to state-of-theart medical care.

“This new affiliation agreement is a game-changer for the Dayton region,” said Sue Edwards, Ph.D., Wright State University president. “It not only continues and improves the delivery of excellent medical care to residents of the region by expanding the accessibility of a wider array of medical care closer to home, but it also offers increased training and learning opportunities for our nursing, public health and medical students and medical school residents.”

The partnership prioritizes producing more clinicians, nurses, and other health care providers; spurring research opportunities; and providing patients with

PREMIER HE ALTH PROVIDING E XPERIENTIAL LE ARNING OPPORTUNITIES

better access to vital medical care close to home.

“The level of trust, excitement, and depth in the relationship between senior leaders of both institutions has been striking to me,” said Michael C. Riordan, Premier Health president and CEO. “From the beginning, we’ve recognized that this affiliation can be transformative for both institutions. There’s just tremendous potential here to bolster our workforce and the future of health care in the region.”

Nationally, the country is facing a shortage of physicians and nurses. The Association of American Medical Colleges projects a shortage of 20,200 to 40,400 primary care doctors by 2036. This could lead to many Americans losing out on the benefits of primary care.

Senior leaders for Premier Health and Wright State are doing their part to grow the medical workforce on a local level.

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PREMIER HE ALTH PROVIDING E XPERIENTIAL LE ARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Wright State’s Board of Trustees approved the new affiliation agreement in April 2024, which replaced a previous agreement between the two organizations. Highlights of the 30-year agreement include:

In December, to further accentuate the alliance, Wright State and Premier Health announced the creation of a new integrated leadership position that will serve as the dean of the Wright State Boonshoft School of Medicine and the chief academic officer of Premier Health.

Innovations and new initiatives in health care education: Investments from Premier Health – totaling $10 million in year one and $15 million in year two—will be invested to support an increase in the class size at the Boonshoft School of Medicine, as well as training and programs to grow the nursing workforce.

“Premier and Wright State are collectively focused on improving the health of the Dayton region,”

Shared board representation: Wright State and Premier Health will each appoint one member of its board leadership to serve as a nonvoting representative on the other’s governing board.

Edwards said. “We are leveraging our collective strengths to better serve the health care and academic needs of our

Collaborative operations: A new Joint Operating Committee will serve as the vehicle through which strategic partnership initiatives will be developed and executed.

community. This relationship will expand experiential learning opportunities for students in ways never seen before.”

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Riordan adds: “A more robust affiliation with Wright State University advances our organizations’ respective missions, elevates academic medicine in the region, and will spur many initiatives that will benefit the region’s communities in exciting new ways.”

The agreement also aims to recognize Miami Valley Hospital as an academic medical center, a pertinent development, as previously, the Dayton area was the only major populated center in Ohio without a formally recognized academic medical center.

Leaders say the benefit of such an agreement is two-fold.

First, an academic medical center attracts a different kind of specialist with a higher interest in research and advancement.

Also, it opens access to clinical trials in Dayton, with a goal of minimizing travel to Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, or Indianapolis to receive such innovative care. The burden on patients will be decreased, as they will not have to travel away from home to receive this level of care and they can be spared for additional increases in cost and stress associated with treatment.

The model is like hospital networks such as Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus and UC Health in Cincinnati. The decision to pursue the status of academic medical center for Miami Valley Hospital demonstrates an even deeper commitment to training the future workforce. Leaders note that 75% of all Wright State students since the university’s inception in 1964 have remained in the Dayton region. The academic medical center will support this trend, as Premier will consider additional clinical programs, as well as strengthening existing programs such as advance practice nursing. The strengthened partnership will not only benefit Wright State students who are from the area and wish to stay in the region, but also drive prosperity throughout the community.

“As one of the largest employers in the region, Premier Health is providing career opportunities for our students,” Edwards said. “Our job is to support them in this mission, and at the

HANDS ON LE ARNING IN THE L ABS WITH PREMIER HE ALTH DOCTOR

same time provide our students with high-level experiential learning opportunities so that following graduation they are employed and remain in the region.”

The university has existing partnerships with the Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dayton Children’s Hospital, and Wright-Patterson Medical Center, which also benefit from this enhanced partnership.

The agreement will also enrich allied health programs and expand the class size of the Boonshoft School of Medicine.

Also, clinical training programs will be enhanced at other Premier Health hospitals, such as Atrium Medical Center in Middletown and Upper Valley Medical Center in Miami County.

STUDENTS IN TR AINING ASSESS THEIR PATIENT WITH THE HELP OF A PREMIER HE ALTH DOCTOR

STUDENT PR ACTICES PATIENT ASSESSMENT

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Up, Up, and Away

BY DENNIS BOVA

Aviation program takes wing with a nod to our namesakes.

“The sky is not the limit. It’s just the beginning.”

– Chuck Yeager, the late decorated Air Force pilot who was the first to fly faster than sound.

The same can be said about Wright State University’s aviation science and technology program, beginning its second year of educating students to become pilots whose potential is limitless. The goals are to meet the growing need for pilots, raise the university’s level of awareness, and fulfill the dreams of young people who yearn to fly.

And, like powered flight, the program began with the Wright brothers.

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Beth Hersman, Ph.D., chair of the School of Aviation, proudly points to the most visible and logical connection between the university and the new program.

"We're Wright State. We're named after the Wright brothers," Hersman said.

The university previously had a class for private pilots in the Department of Kinesiology and Health, of which Hersman is professor and department chair. But the current and looming need for pilots to replace those who are to retire spurred Wright State into spreading its wings in aviation education. As noted on the program’s website: “The aviation industry is experiencing a shortage of qualified pilots in the United States. There could be a shortage of as many as 130,000 pilots over the next two decades.”

When talking about piloting, commercial airlines come to mind, but the program recognizes there also are careers in corporate or charter operations, cargo airlines, survey piloting, governmental contracting, flight instruction, law enforcement, and Federal Aviation Administration inspection.

The School of Aviation welcomed its first class in August 2024, making available a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Science and Technology, an Associate of Applied Science in Aviation Science and Technology or a minor in Aviation Studies. The university partners with First Flight Aviation, a flight school at Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport in Miamisburg, for classroom and flight instruction. Some classes take place at Millett Hall, home of the College of Health, Education, and Human Services.

Enrollment is small compared to other disciplines—the inaugural class was composed of about 15 students. The goal is to eventually graduate 40 students each year, Hersman said. “It’s a demanding program,” Hersman added. “It’s not something where you can skip studying.

If you don’t come prepared for flight lab, you don’t fly. And if you don’t fly, you get behind.”

Working toward increasing that enrollment is Eli Justice, admissions recruiter in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Justice said he’s been approached by potential students at 16

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college fairs, and the word about Wright State is spreading. For the Fall 2025 semester, he said, applications have arrived from students representing 21 states, primarily Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan. Despite being geographically diverse, the applicants have one thing in common: a love of flying.

There’s a passion. It’s like a dream,” said Craig Castle, instructor and assistant chief flight instructor, of the students in the program who’ve wanted to fly since childhood. “This reminds them of what they always wanted to do with their life.

It’s attainable.”

Savannah Oakley is one such student.

“I fell in love with flying when I was 10 years old,” said the Kettering resident. “I love every aspect. Being able to fly is a free feeling. It’s not every day that anyone gets to fly in the sky – it’s a happy place for me.”

Oakley is a pioneer of the aviation program, enrolling at Wright State as an undecided major prior to its official start.

“I heard about the program. I knew it was in the works. I grew up at the airport they partner with; my uncle flies out of that airport.” Oakley added, “They are building a super strong program. It’s going to go far. I’ve flown with really awesome people, and been taught by really awesome people who really know what they’re talking about.”

The chief flight instructor is Mick

Phillips, who has brought a certain pedigree and philosophy to the program.

He was a flight instructor at the Air Force Academy in Colorado, and aims to develop Wright State “into an elite, topend flight school.” After all, he said, “we’re named after the Wright brothers, and their airplane is in our logo. We want to be mentioned in the same conversation as other elite schools.”

Phillips continued, “What that entails is we have to teach differently, and be sure the instructors and the students understand that if we’re going to be at that level, they must want to be part of that culture, and be not just a good aviator, but the best on the planet, the best in the industry.”

Phillips likens the culture he’s instilling to that of a championship collegiate sports team. At Ohio State, he said for example, he said, “they’re looking for national championships. We want elite pilots. We encourage that and facilitate that every day. You have to dedicate time outside of the classroom to study. If you want to go party, this is not the program for you.”

He added, “We want the program to be viewed as highly competitive. From day one, you’re competing for a flight spot,” much the same as competing for a starting spot on the Ohio State football team, he said. “You have to earn that spot.

That competitiveness really drives an elite status.”

STUDENTS AND INSTRUCTOR IN THE AVIATION PROGR AM

STUDENT UTILIZING A FLIGHT SIMUL ATOR

“I’m a big advocate of team building,” Phillips continued. Along that line, each class, which enrolls by semester, develops its own patch to wear on their flight jackets. That way, each class is identifiable throughout its four years, and it adds a pride factor.

Those who excel in their aviation/academic progress can become instructors within the program. “We can hire out our best and brightest pilots to be instructors at the beginning of their third year,” Hersman said.

Aviation is starting its second full academic year, so this instructor arrangement is yet to come. But when it does, it’ll help defray the cost of tuition and flight lab fees for the student aviators.

Hersman said the program is striving to develop partnerships that would help defray the costs for students.

Castle added that alumni can help support the program “not just financial on the front end, but the back end to make job connections. Anything that can open a door for our students. We’re just so new, we welcome anyone who wants to help.”

What sets Wright State apart from other Ohio universities that offer aviation instruction, Hersman said, is the academic degree attached to the pilot credentials.

As part of her academics, Oakley said she takes mathematics, English, science, “core classes, pretty much like every other Wright State student has to take, and a couple electives. Mainly my class schedule is a lot of ground classes for flying.”

Oakley said she has her private pilot’s license, and is working toward earning an instrument rating. Other ratings are upcoming. She expects to graduate in 2027 or 2028. “It’s a five-year route. Some ratings take a little longer than others.”

She hopes eventually to be one of the flight instructors in the program for which she sees nothing but blue skies. The program “is going to continue to thrive and produce really good, safe pilots,” she said.

As Yeager said, the sky is not the limit, but the beginning. Wright State heeds those words.

“ THIS IS NOT JUST ANOTHER PROGRAM,” PHILLIPS SAID. “THIS IS SOMETHING WE’RE GOING TO USE TO CREATE A REPUTATION AND A LEGACY FOR WRIGHT STATE. WE’RE HERE TO DEVELOP REALLY ELITE STUDENTS. FROM THE OUTSET, IT IS HERE TO BOLSTER OUR REPUTATION AND SET WRIGHT STATE APART FROM ANY OTHER UNIVERSITY OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY ON THE FLIGHT SIDE.”

­­— MICK PHILLIPS, CHIEF FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR

SAVANNAH OAKLE Y

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CAREER HUB : A comfortable, professional center with a new emphasis on early job exploration

By Jessica Graue ’04, ’09

F

inding a career path or job and internship opportunities can be daunting for students, but the new Career Hub in the Student Union at Wright State University will help students and alumni in their journey toward a rewarding future in their field or discipline.

The Career Hub is part of Career Services. However, the Career Hub’s goal is to get students thinking about those jobs and internships earlier in their college years, offering services in one specialized location.

Previously, career consultants would maintain a physical location in a specific college.

Kim Gilliam, Ed.D., director of Career Education and Success, was hired in November 2023 to make the hub a reality.

“The vision was to bring everybody together under one roof in the center of the Student Union,” Gilliam said. “So that’s much more visibility, making it obvious to students that we exist and what we’re here to do to help them. It’s also a place for employers, so that was part of the vision: to create something where students are comfortable and employers are comfortable.”

Gilliam said the hub looks different than the rest of the campus. She wanted to create a place that would pique students’ curiosity and get them excited for what lies beyond the doors. There are large windows and doors where students can look and see and ask, “what is that?”

With a leather sofa and fireplace, it’s meant to be an inviting space.

“When I worked with the interior designers and architect, I said I don’t want it to look like everything else at Wright State or just another student space,” she said.

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“ The space is meant to be kind of the nexus of where students meet the workforce… It’s a place where a student feels comfortable, but they also know it feels different. I feel maybe a little more professional walking in here.”

KIM GILLIAM, ED.D., DIRECTOR OF CAREER EDUCATION AND SUCCESS

The Career Hub offers a variety of services, including major and career exploration, job and internship searches, and resume and cover letter assistance. The hub also offers mock interviews, which help build skills many employers say students are lacking. Gilliam said they want to help students learn the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) career readiness competencies, which include career and self-development, communication, critical thinking, equity and inclusion, leadership, professionalism, teamwork, and technology.

“Some of the issues we hear from employers are that students are not able to translate their college experience into a professional interview, into selling themselves, into telling their story,” she said. “I think students that use our services will be able to do that, whether it’s in the written form of a cover letter, in a resume, or verbals and non-verbals during an interview. It’s learning how to tell their story and be able to show those transferable skills from being part of a student organization or doing a classroom project, all activities students do on campuses that aren’t paid typically, but they gain a lot of skills.”

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STUDENT MEE TING WITH CAREER CONSULTANT IN THE CAREER HUB

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DESCRIPTION OF PHOTO

The Career Hub, which opened in January 2025, is 5,700 square feet in space and includes offices for career consultants, as well as three conference rooms and a lounge space. A photo booth is available for anyone needing a professional headshot for their resumes or LinkedIn pages Appointments are available for more indepth consultations.

Mariann Boron, associate director of Career Advising Operations and Data Management, said students are definitely intrigued. She said he new space is making it easier for students to understand what the Career Hub offers. “Students didn’t always know what was career [services] and what was academic advising,” Boron said. “I think now it gives at least an easier divide on who we are and what our services are. And, with it being a new space, I think students are really wanting to get in and see it. I think everyone likes something new, and it always just sparks curiosity.”

The first Career Fair in the Career Hub occurred in February 2025; about 700 students and 65 employers attended. Boron said the headshot booth was popular, with at least 40 students using it on that day alone.

Ashley Hill-Mercer, assistant director and career consultant, said the Career Fair was successful, and she has seen students making more appointments, especially for help with resumes. Her meetings with students typically entail multiple items. “Anything from trying to figure out what they want to do to what their major is,” Hill-Mercer said.

“Writing career documents, resumes, cover letters, CVs for some students applying to grad school and how to navigate that.

Interviewing, job search and internship strategies, salary negotiation, professional dress. It runs the gamut really and usually it’s not one thing. That’s kind of the tricky part is that they think they’re going to talk about internships, but they’ve never actually built a resume, so we have to back up and say, ‘What are you applying with?’ It’s usually a multi-faceted conversation.”

Both Hill-Mercer and Boron said there haven’t been too many challenges since they opened. The logistics of merging employees from all over the campus into one place is taking some getting used to, but both are

CAREER SERVICES STAFF

sure any issues will be ironed out over the coming months. There are 10 staff members at the Career Hub, including six career consultants, one for each college.

Boron is also training student workers to help the staffers at the front desk.

The Career Hub staff is optimistic about the buzz at the hub and look forward to the constructions being completed.

An area with conference rooms, a career lab, kitchen, and storage is being developed. Students can drop in without an appointment to get quick questions answered.

“We’ll have probably one or two peer career coaches for drop-in students who don’t have an appointment, but need something right away,” Boron said. “That way, they are not waiting a week or two.

They can get a question answered if they have an application that is due before they could get an appointment. Alumni are still welcome to come back and schedule appointments to meet with us, too. This isn’t something you only get when you are in school. It’s one of those services that keeps on giving.”

Wright State alumni, faculty, and staff can utilize the Career Hub, as well as employers looking to hire. The hub’s associate director works in external relations with employers, but each of the career consultants work with employers as well. The hub will host another career and internship fair in the fall. For now, the staff hopes the community will become more familiar with the services offered and know there is a place where they can get help.

“My hopes are that it [Career Hub] becomes a staple for students, that it really just starts to become part of the culture that they use the space,” Hill-Mercer said. “Also, that they don’t think of is it as something that they only need to drop in as they approach graduation, but that they can come in and have conversations while they are navigating their career journey.

Because that’s a big misconception that we are trying to change with students is that your career planning doesn’t happen after you graduate, but that it should be happening at the same time.”

The Career Hub is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. in 108 Student Union. Students can meet with a career consultant by scheduling an appointment at the Career Hub front desk or through Handshake.

For more information about the Career Hub, visit wright.edu/career-services.

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RESIDENTS IN THE RUR AL RESIDENCY PROGR AM

Boonshoft School of Medicine Experienced physician appointed for firstever dual leadership role

In March 2025, Raj Mitra began serving as dean of the Boonshoft School of Medicine and chief academic officer at Premier Health. He is the first to hold the new dual role responsible for driving ground-breaking initiatives through a more integrated delivery of academic and clinical services at both institutions.

Mitra came to the Miami Valley from Florida, where he served as professor of medicine and associate dean of clinical affairs at the University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Medicine and chief medical officer at UCF Health.

“I was particularly inspired by the shared mission of the two organizations to support the community through excellence in innovative research, exceptional teaching, and world-class patient care,” Mitra said. “This is particularly timely in southern Ohio and throughout our country, where we will face a substantial physician shortage over the next decade.”

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A nationally recognized expert in rehabilitation medicine and pain management, Mitra has made significant contributions to research, advising, and policy development, particularly in addressing the nation’s opioid crisis.

Mobile street medicine program helps under served patients in Dayton

The Boonshoft School of Medicine provides health care services to people with substance use disorders through a mobile community-based health care, or street medicine, model.

The Dayton Street Medicine Project is a collaboration with the Dayton Dream Center, a nonprofit outreach center on East Third Street, and Premier Health’s Mobile Clinic program.

“The idea of street medicine is to provide the lowest possible barrier to quality care, which often means meeting people where they’re at,” said Marietta Orlowski, chair of population and public health sciences.

Funded by a two-year $293,968 award from the OneOhio Recovery Foundation, the project also provides training opportunities for Wright State medical and behavioral health students to work with individuals impacted by substance use and addiction.

“These are rich, life-changing learning experiences and many will continue to work and make a difference in this space,” Orlowski explained. “It’s an opportunity to train the future generation of the workforce that will really change the ecosystem of care and health.”

Residency program addresses the shortage of physicians in rural Ohio communities

Wright State’s rural family residency program is working to address a shortage of physicians in rural Ohio communities in a collaboration with Miami Valley Hospital, Family Health Services of Darke County, and Wayne Health Care of Greenville.

The residency program’s goal is to train family medicine physicians who will establish medical practices in rural Ohio, where health systems struggle to find enough physicians to meet the needs of their communities.

“We have a one plus two program, which gives our residents the best of both worlds,” said program director Carlos Menendez. “They are able to take rotations their first year in the world-class facilities of Miami Valley Hospital and Dayton Children's Hospital before completing their second and third years in a rural setting.”

The program has a full cohort of nine residents. The first cohort of three residents is expected to graduate in June 2026.

M.D. in Three program allows students to earn their degrees faster

Thanks to the M.D. in Three program, students in the Boonshoft School of Medicine have the option of saving money, graduating sooner, and practicing medicine earlier.

RESIDENT IN RUR AL RESIDENCY PROGR AM ASSESSING A PATIENT

“ THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS INTERESTED IN PRIMARY CARE TO FOCUS THEIR CURRICULUM SO THEY FINISH IN THREE YEARS. THIS SAVES THEM A FULL YEAR OF TUITION AND HELPS FILL PRIMARY CARE WORKFORCE NEEDS EVEN FASTER. IT’S A WIN FOR STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY.” – LAURIE BANKSTON, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF FAMILY MEDICINE

For Cole Stevens, the M.D. in Three program has enhanced his knowledge while reaffirming his commitment to practicing family medicine in the future.

“Physicians who are truly passionate about their careers often emphasize finding a ‘home’ in medicine,” said Stevens. “The family medicine M.D. in Three program is where I found a community of physicians dedicated to benefiting patients on the front lines of primary care, aligning with my professional interests and making medicine feel like home.”

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College of Engineering and Computer Science Getting students on the right track in math

While math may be one of the core foundations of engineering and computer science, it is a subject that doesn’t always come easily to new students as they enter the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

Thanks to the Academic Advantage Program, a pre-math college boot camp, students can explore their right level of mathematics so they can begin a successful college career.

“It helps the students reach their strides early,” said Darryl Ahner, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “There is nothing more frustrating than being put into too low of a level of a math class where you’re bored or too high of a level of a math class where you can never catch up.”

Students in the Academic Advantage Program arrive on campus two weeks prior to the start of classes. This gives them the opportunity to explore campus, meet some of their peers, and develop a sense of belonging.

Inside the classroom, students will see math in action through real-world engineering and computer science examples. By improving their math placement level, acquiring the skills they need for their college courses and connecting with professors and 24

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classmates, students are set on a path to succeed.

“After the program, I felt 100 percent ready to take my firstyear courses,” said biomedical engineering major Noah Scott. “Not only did it help with my math skills, but it also helped me get to know the professors who are teaching different engineering courses. And I was able to get a little bit of the college experience before classes started.”

The Academic Advantage Program is sponsored by the AES Ohio Foundation, Huntington Ingalls Industries, and Leidos.

New programs help support the region’s workforce pipeline

As a university named after Wilbur and Orville Wright—two brothers from Dayton who took the first powered flight and forever changed the world—it only seems fitting that a new option for aerospace education would take wing at Wright State.

While the university already offers a master’s degree in aerospace engineering, students now have the option of pursuing a minor in the field.

“We thought it was important to have an additional minor to go along with our strong mechanical

engineering program,” Ahner explained.

With the new minor, students can hone their skills and expertise in the fastgrowing aerospace field as they’re working toward their mechanical engineering degree.

The program is particularly timely with the rise of advanced air mobility.

Also new in the college is the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology. The program was developed as a pathway for students with an associate degree in engineering technology to go on to complete a four-year bachelor’s degree.

“Manufacturing is taking off in this area of Ohio, which creates the need for more graduates on the manufacturing side of engineering,” said Ahner.

Digital engineering and technology transformation initiative prepares future workforce

A forklift is no longer just a forklift. The traditional image of a manually operated machine used to move items from one place to another is quickly becoming outdated.

Today’s forklifts have evolved into highly sophisticated, technologically advanced tools connected to a range of systems. Many forklifts are now autonomous, programmed to navigate and transport multiple items within large warehouses. They’ve become vital components of the modern supply chain,

efficiently fulfilling orders and moving vast quantities of products and raw materials.

These new forklifts are the result of collaboration across various fields—software developers, engineers, product managers, and supervisors all play a role in their design and operation.

The modern-day forklift is the perfect example of digital engineering and technology in action.

Digital engineering and technology refer to the use of digital tools, methods, and models to design, develop, and manage engineering systems and products throughout their lifecycles. It integrates various digital technologies—such as simulation, modeling, data analytics, computer-aided design, artificial intelligence, and machine learning—to create virtual representations (digital twins) of physical systems, enabling engineers to test, analyze, and optimize designs before physical prototypes are built.

The main goals of digital engineering and technology are to enhance efficiency and accuracy, reduce costs and time, improve collaboration, and support lifecycle management.

Nearly every engineer and computer scientist will work with digital engineering and technology. With this in mind, the College of Engineering and Computer Science has embarked on a digital engineering and technology transformation initiative.

Key investment areas include launching an

endowed digital engineering and technology scholarship fund, creating innovative and collaborative learning spaces that integrate digital tools, and establishing an endowed chair for digital engineering and technology.

“The digital engineering and technology transformation initiative supports what it means to be an engineer and computer scientist in the 21st century,” explained Ahner, who remains committed to producing graduates for the workforce pipelines of Wright–Patterson Air Force Base, defense contractors, and non-defense companies in the region.

“We are recruiting more.

We are graduating more,” said Ahner.

“ ENGINEERS AND COMPUTER SCIENTISTS ARE IN HUGE DEMAND RIGHT NOW. WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO GROW THAT ENROLLMENT AND PROVIDING THE ENGINEERS AND COMPUTER SCIENTISTS OF TOMORROW.” ­­— D ARRYL AHNER, DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE WRIGHT.EDU/ALUMNI

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College of Health, Education, and Human Services

Three-year nursing degree helps graduates enter the workforce sooner

A three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) allows Wright State students to graduate and enter the workforce more quickly, helping to fill a critical need for nurses in the Dayton region.

The popularity of the accelerated program has increased in recent years. Launched in fall 2023, the first cohort of 32 students will graduate in late summer 2025 after studying for six consecutive semesters. Sixty new students are expected to begin the program this fall.

The School of Nursing collaborates with clinical partners throughout the region to enhance students’ learning and contribute to student success. Students spend around 200 hours in clinical experiences during a capstone.

For their final semester, students are required to complete a preceptorship where they work in one of the region’s hospitals, supervised by a registered nurse, caring directly for patients. Many students receive job offers before graduation from the facilities in which their preceptorships take place.

“Wright State’s nursing program is dedicated to meeting the needs of our students and community partners,” said Vicki Evans, director of the prelicensure B.S.N. program. “Our goal is to graduate highly qualified, competent nurses who continue to serve our communities.”

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STUDENTS IN THE ACCELER ATED NURSING PROGR AM

New degree programs offered in the School of Health and Exercise Sciences

The School of Health and Exercise Sciences currently offers a sports science degree with two concentrations: health and fitness, and sports medicine. Beginning in fall semester 2025, these concentrations will be standalone degree programs.

The health and fitness concentration will become the new Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, which is the path for students interested in fitness, recreation, and strength and conditioning.

The sports medicine concentration will become the new Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, providing a pathway to graduate programs and offering concentration areas in pre-athletic training, pre-occupational therapy, pre-physician assistant, pre-physical therapy, and pre-sport and rehabilitation medicine. The program can also accommodate students in pre-chiropractic medicine.

Also starting in fall 2025, the school will offer a 3-2 option within the Master of Athletic Training program. Students who declare health sciences/preathletic training as their major are automatically enrolled in the five-year program with three years of undergraduate study, followed by a two-year master’s degree program. This new option reduces costs for students interested in athletic training as their career path.

Supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of the community

As mental health issues and illnesses continue to increase dramatically, faculty in the School of Social Work and Human Services are training the next generation of professionals to help individuals—of all ages—overcome these challenges.

“Clinical counseling may be more important to society than ever. Thankfully, public stigma of mental illness is lowering, and people are more open to the idea of seeking help,” said Josh Francis, director of the clinical mental health counseling program. “Clinical counselors are uniquely positioned to help people work toward greater mental health as they are thoroughly trained and skilled in the core areas of treatment.”

The master’s degree program trains students to work as therapists with a diverse group of clients. Students gain real-world experience through intensive practicums and internships with a variety of service providers and agencies across the Dayton region, including hospitals, mental health agencies, private practices, forensic facilities, schools, and nursing facilities.

Graduates may become licensed as professional counselors and professional clinical counselors (LPC/ LPCC) in Ohio, allowing them to independently diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders.

For Amy Johnson, clinical mental health counseling is a second career.

“ AS A NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENT, I LOOKED FOR A DIVERSE PROGRAM THAT WOULD FIT MY NEEDS AND MAKE ME FEEL INCLUDED, CHALLENGE ME, AND GIVE ME THE TOOLS TO COUNSEL CLIENTS. I’M IN MY LAST SEMESTER AND I AM HAPPY THAT I CHOSE WRIGHT STATE.” ­­— A MY JOHNSON

While the job of a school counselor is not to deal specifically with students’ mental health challenges, they collaborate with mental health counselors in schools and help students from pre-K to grade 12 focus on their academics, career aspirations, and social and emotional well-being.

Students in the Master of Education in School Counseling degree program spend at least one year getting real-world training in one of the program’s 35 affiliated schools.

“My internship experience has provided me with hands-on experience in various settings, including individual counseling, small group sessions, classroom lessons, and indirect student services,” said Bryn Stansberry. “I have gained the expertise to address students’ personal and social development, academic success, and career readiness while fostering a positive and supportive school environment that encourages students to reach their full potential.”

Tara Hill, the program’s director, works closely with the school counselor advisory committee to make sure the curriculum meets the needs of future employers.

“Our site supervisors are very pleased with the student interns they have,” said Hill. “We are an applicationbased program. We have classes in advanced thinking and theory, but we want students, when they graduate, to be ready to work with kids.”

The bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work train students to provide counseling services and work in professional roles such as school social work, medical social work, and child protective services. Individuals with a graduate degree and licensure are qualified to diagnose mental illnesses.

“Licensed mental health services are extremely important for the community and patients,” said Jennifer Hughes, chair of the Department of Social Work. “They are in high demand, and we are currently experiencing a shortage of licensed mental health providers.”

Both undergraduate and graduate students can intern with more than 100 community partners. Many receive job offers while completing their degrees.

“There are not enough positive words to describe my education in the social work program,” said Kimberly McKinley. “Each professor I interacted with was committed to helping me be successful. I owe my success as a social worker and therapist to Wright State’s social work program. And now, I am eager to begin my master’s degree program this summer.”

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Raj Soin College of Business New business artificial intelligence minor launches in fall 2025

Wright State students will soon be able to broaden their skills in one of the most rapidly evolving fields in the world of business.

Beginning in Fall Semester 2025, the Raj Soin College of Business will offer a business artificial intelligence (AI) minor.

The minor was established to equip students with foundational knowledge and practical skills in AI, as applied to business contexts. The program covers AI fundamentals, data analysis, and machine learning techniques, focusing on their applications in solving real-world business challenges.

“The demand for professionals with AI and data analytics expertise is growing across all industries. Businesses leverage AI to enhance efficiency, improve customer experiences, and gain a competitive edge,” said Daniel Asamoah, chair of the School of Finance, Accounting, Management Information Systems, and Economics. “By completing this minor, students will develop a unique and highly-sought-after skill set, positioning them for better career opportunities in the evolving job market.”

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The development of the AI minor was influenced by feedback from the college’s industry partners. Input from the Management Information Systems Corporate Advisory Board played a crucial role in designing a curriculum that aligns with industry needs.

While AI is not expected to replace all jobs, graduates without AI knowledge or skills will face increasing challenges in the workforce over the next five to 10 years.

“AI applications are becoming pervasive across industries, and our goal is to ensure that every graduate, regardless of major, attains AI literacy before they enter the job market,” said Asamoah. “Expanding AI education across disciplines will be a key focus for the college in the coming years.”

The launch of the new business AI minor is timely, as the AI industry continues to experience exponential growth. As of 2024, the global AI market was valued at approximately $298.25 billion and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 32.9%, reaching nearly $1.85 trillion by 2030 (Grand View Research, 2024).

“This program positions the Raj Soin College of Business and Wright State University at

the forefront of AI education, ensuring our students are career ready and well-prepared for the evolving demands of the job market,” said Asamoah.

New academy helps students develop their leadership potential

A group of high-achieving undergraduate students from Wright State University recently capped off an intensive yearlong journey to enhance their leadership skills through the new Ascend Leadership Academy.

Organized by Rachel Sturm, Ph.D., associate dean of the Raj Soin College of Business, the academy helps students increase their leadership potential, career success, and capacity to create a positive impact in the Dayton region and beyond. Students who completed the program received an Ascend Leadership Academy Certificate.

“The academy promises to significantly impact both the personal and professional lives of its participants, contributing to a vibrant and dynamic future for the Dayton region,” Sturm said. “Since nearly 80% of Wright State graduates remain in Raider Country, the Ascend Leadership Academy is designed to help students become leaders in their

STUDENTS IN THE ASCEND LE ADERSHIP ACADEMY

chosen careers in the Dayton region.”

The first cohort comprised 31 students from various fields, including accounting, business management, economics, electrical engineering, entrepreneurship, finance, international business, management information systems, marketing, mechanical engineering, organizational leadership, pre-med studies, and psychology.

“This eclectic mix underscores the academy’s commitment to nurturing leadership skills and character across disciplines, ensuring that participants are well-equipped to excel in their chosen professions,” Sturm said.

The academy employs a variety of learning experiences and methodologies to help students develop their leadership talents, including assessments, formal instruction, panel discussions, and mentorship opportunities. Students also participate in field experiences and community service activities.

The academy helps students better understand their core beliefs and motivations, develop character, enhance their emotional intelligence and interpersonal competencies, set goals, expand their worldview and community service mindset, and learn of professional opportunities in the Dayton region.

STUDENTS IN THE ASCEND LE ADERSHIP ACADEMY

STUDENTS IN THE ASCEND LE ADERSHIP ACADEMY

STUDENTS IN THE ASCEND LE ADERSHIP ACADEMY

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College of Science and Mathematics Festival of Research celebrates experiential learning

Cassandra Poeppelman remembers the first time she presented at the Festival of Research, an annual event hosted by the College of Science and Mathematics. As someone apprehensive about public speaking, she lacked confidence and was concerned others wouldn’t find her research interesting.

“The excitement and enthusiasm of other presenters at the festival inspired me to take pride in my own work, and I quickly realized sharing my research was not something to be afraid of, but rather something to celebrate,” said Poeppelman.

“That first experience taught me the power of community and the importance of putting yourself out there. To this day, I carry that lesson with me, reminding myself the work I do matters, and I should be proud to share it with the world.”

Poeppelman is now a veteran of the Festival of Research. She has presented four times at the flagship event that celebrates experiential learning within the college. Each year, she joins about 80 other student presenters in showcasing the scientific knowledge they have gained from research projects.

“The event provides the opportunity for students and faculty to learn more about the research that is happening across the college, promoting the sharing of new knowledge across different disciplines,” said Steven Higgins, associate dean of the College of Science and Mathematics.

The Festival of Research also creates valuable networking opportunities for both students and corporate partners. An employer panel allows students to ask questions about work opportunities

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and to receive job-seeking tips directly from companies.

For Poeppelman, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences, experiential learning has been instrumental in shaping her professional aspirations.

“Wright State’s research environment has given me the skills and confidence necessary to pursue a future in health care, where I aim to combine clinical practice with ongoing research to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of medical science,” she said.

Along with giving students the opportunity to hone their presentation skills, one of the greatest benefits of the Festival of Research is the exchange of ideas.

“Events like the Festival of Research,” said Higgins, “provide unique opportunities for students to showcase work aimed towards the other main goal of higher education, which, in parallel with producing an educated workforce, is to advance knowledge in areas of interest to the region, state, country, and in some cases, the planet.”

STUDENT PRESENTING HER RESE ARCH AT THE FESTIVAL OF RESE ARCH

STUDENT PRESENTING HER RESE ARCH AT THE FESTIVAL OF RESE ARCH

THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF RESE ARCH CELEBR ATES E XPERIENTIAL LE ARNING

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College of Liberal Arts

CAM 1

Tom Hanks Center for Motion Pictures adds director

Wright State graduate Nichol Simmons is the inaugural director of the Tom Hanks Center for Motion Pictures, the state-of-the-art facility that houses the university’s awardwinning motion pictures program.

Since earning a bachelor’s degree in motion picture production in 1999, Simmons has been immersed in the film industry and has mentored other Wright State alumni.

Now, as the director of the Tom Hanks Center for Motion Pictures, Simmons is poised to help even more.

“One of my goals in this job and for this program is to shift the narrative about the motion picture program,” Simmons said. “People think of us only as being an arts program, and there’s artistry in what we do, but there is also science and technology involved. We hit every letter in STEM.” Simmons emphasized that it is also an economic development program.

“There is a lot more production happening in Ohio than most people may realize,” said Simmons.

In Ohio, the motion picture and television industry is responsible for more than 18,500 jobs and more than $1.23 billion in wages, while the indirect and induced impact on local vendors and other businesses included more than 51,100 jobs in 2022, according to the Motion Picture Association of America.

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WRIGHT STATE MAGAZINE | 20 25

REC

Simmons’ goals include starting a high school summer film camp and bringing back a summer production class for non-motion picture majors.

Another goal is to build relationships and advocate for the center by collaborating with businesses and fostering connections with alumni.

“I have been laying the groundwork for doing this job for a long time,” Simmons said of her activity on behalf of Wright State over the years. “I’m very passionate about this program.”

said. “I want to take what worked before that got our students’ films Student Academy Award nominations and Student Emmy and Sundance awards and to train students to be storytellers engaged in the world around them.”

Simmons added, “I want to prepare students to be able to walk into the professional world and feel like they are trained to the highest level for those early positions. But most importantly, we want to help students find their voice.”

To donate to the Julia Reichert Endowment, visit wright.edu/Julia

Another passion close to Simmons’s heart is establishing an endowment in memory of Julia Reichert, professor emeritus of motion pictures at Wright State, who died in 2022.

An Academy Award-winning filmmaker, Reichert is known as the “godmother of American independent documentaries.”

“She and I became very close.

She was my teacher and my mentor and my friend,” Simmons said.

“She helped me get my first job. I wouldn’t have had the production career that I had if Julia wasn’t there. She also laid the foundation for what I aspire to be as an instructor and a leader.”

The aim is to raise $2.5 million for professional development, a visiting artists series, and modern equipment for students.

“This endowment is critical to what I’m trying to do,” Simmons

Dayton-based filmmaker and 2014 Wright State motion pictures graduate Brittany Shyne won the prestigious U.S. Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival for her debut film, Seeds.

The documentary, an intimate exploration of Black intergenerational farmers in the American South, captivated Sundance audiences and film critics with its emotional storytelling and evocative black-and-white cinematography.

In its award announcement, the Sundance jury called Shyne a “new voice with something powerful, rich, and poignant to say.”

For Shyne, the recognition culminated nearly a decade of work.

“I’ve been on such a long journey with this film,” she said. “You never know with your first film. There are

Honoring a film making legend

Alumna Brittany Shyne wins top documentary prize at Sundance Film Festival

PLAY

00:00:00

From the Medieval to the Modern: 4K

HD

A Sojourn through Germany & Austria MAY 16 – 27, 2026

TRAVEL DATES: Arrive Saturday, May 16, 2026 in Berlin.

Depart Vienna on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.

PRICE PER PERSON BRIT TANY SHYNE '14 (RIGHT) PHOTO CREDIT: SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

so many ups and downs—it’s like a roller coaster. The fact that the film has been received in such a way is still a lot for me to process.”

As Shyne worked on the film, she realized she was also documenting the final stages of life of the elderly farmers who appear in Seeds.

“I knew these stories would disappear if I didn’t document them,” she said. “The film was always about preservation and cultural heritage.”

Journey to Germany and Austria in May 2026 Wright State University alumni are invited to travel with Gary Schmidt, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, for an insider perspective on German and Austrian history and culture. The 12-day tour begins in Berlin, Germany’s cosmopolitan capital that brings the past and present together in a cityscape filled with memorials, museums, galleries, palaces, theaters, and nightclubs.

Next stop is the city of Nuremberg, followed by the medieval walled town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

Enjoy exquisite artworks by Albrecht Dürer and visit the Kaiserburg, where the Holy Roman Emperor resided when he was in town.

Crossing into Austria, the group will spend two nights in the baroque city of Salzburg, birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and setting for the movie The Sound of Music.

The journey concludes in Vienna, city of waltzes and operas and the former seat of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Tour ornate baroque palaces and churches, see paintings by Gustav Klimt, attend a concert, and sample Austrian wine and cuisine.

All trip information is listed in the right column.

Single-room occupancy: $4850 Double-room occupancy: $3500 THIS PRICE INCLUDES: • Lodging for 11 days • Transport between cities via high speed rail • 2 group meals • All entrance fees for museums, palaces, churches, boat ride, etc.

• Two lectures by locals and a musical performance • Group travel guide (Dean Schmidt) during duration of trip • Prior to trip: 4 optional lectures by Dean Schmidt on each of the four cities visited: Berlin, Nuremberg, Salzburg, and Vienna, including information about culture, history, cuisine, and more.

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: • Round trip airfare to Europe • Two optional musical events (opera/symphony) • Passport fees

Potential travelers can express interest by e-mailing gary.schmidt@wright.edu.

Visit wright.edu/Europe2026 for more information

WRIGHT.EDU/ALUMNI

33

STUDENTS COLL ABOR ATING WHILE USING WDBEC RESOURCES

STUDENT STUDYING AT L AKE CAMPUS

Lake Campus

T

he Workforce Development and Business Enterprise Center at Wright State University–Lake Campus is a valued resource for employers throughout West Central Ohio.

For years, the Workforce Development and Business Enterprise Center (WDBEC) has provided talent development, continuing education, and small business development services. Offering a range of courses to improve computer, leadership, and technical skills, the center provides professional development opportunities and resources relevant to business and individual needs.

“The WDBEC provides lifelong learning opportunities for individuals to continue their education throughout their careers. We are an educational bridge between the university and our region,” said the center’s director Tammy Eilerman.

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WRIGHT STATE MAGAZINE | 20 25

Connecting Students to Career Paths The WDBEC partners with the Mercer County Educational Service Center and Auglaize County schools to offer a pre-apprenticeship program in manufacturing.

High school seniors take classes through the WDBEC while attending their home school and working at a local manufacturer or business part time. Students can earn a certificate of pre-apprenticeship through ApprenticeOhio and the Certified Manufacturing Associate credential. The program is currently funded through a grant from the West Central Ohio Manufacturing Partnership.

“It has made my career goals more achievable,” said Jay Schroeder, a participant in the pre-apprenticeship program. “Since I am able to work, I am learning and getting valuable experience to prepare myself for my future career.”

Teaching skills in advanced manufacturing The WDBEC offers SkillsTrac, an advanced manufacturing program designed to help businesses, technicians, and students develop the skills they need to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair automated systems.

“With SkillsTrac, you choose only the sections you need, so you can develop the training that best suits you,” said Eilerman. “SkillsTrac combines online classes with hands-on labs, giving you the training you need without disrupting your work or school schedule.”

Training in cutting-edge technologies

Helping small businesses flourish

Thanks to a RAPIDS (Regionally Aligned Priorities in Delivering Skills) grant from the Ohio Department of Higher Education, Lake Campus is becoming equipped for the needs of the future regional workforce.

“We have invested in cutting-edge technologies— AI robotics, electric vehicle training, virtual welding, and advanced manufacturing systems—to ensure our community remains at the forefront of industry innovation,” said Eilerman. “This critical investment empowers us to expand our programs to meet the needs of the region’s businesses.”

WDBEC was also awarded a grant from the Gene Haas Foundation to offer courses in precision machining and computer numerical control.

“With this funding, we are able to offer courses at no cost to the participants,” said Eilerman. “We offer precision machining in the evenings, two nights a week, to both current students and community members.”

The WDBEC has partnered with the Ohio Small Business Development Center at Rhodes State College to offer small business advising at Lake Campus. For over 30 years, the Ohio Small Business Development Center has accelerated business growth, helped create jobs, and provided consulting to existing and new start-up businesses.

The services provided range from free, one-on-one business advising to marketing strategy development to loan-packaging guidance.

Sparking creativity and innovation The WDBEC also spearheaded the creation of LakerSpace, a hub where students and community members can transform ideas into tangible items. Equipped with a diverse array of tools and technologies ranging from 3D printers and laser cutters to sewing machines, the LakerSpace cultivates the spirit of creativity and problem-solving, enabling participants to develop new skills and bring their imaginative projects to life.

IRA Charitable Rollover Gift HOW YOU CAN BENEFIT

DID YOU KNOW? If you are age 701/2 or older, you can roll over a portion of an IRA to support a charitable cause that you’re passionate about—such as educating students at Wright State University.

An IRA ROLLOVER gift could prevent you from being bumped into a higher tax bracket and may reduce future required minimum distributions (RMDs).

You can help Wright State without impacting your checking or savings account!

To learn more, visit: wright.edu/plannedgiving

WRIGHT.EDU/ALUMNI

35

WRIGHT STATE RIGHT DOWN FIRST-GENERATION STUDENT’S ALLEY

BY DENN IS BOVA

PAIGE PAT TERSON

Paige Patterson is an original in her family.

Is it the bowling? Patterson is a key member of Wright State University’s NCAA Division I bowling team. No—her parents bowled, and she matter-of-factly said, “I grew up in a bowling alley.”

It’s simply—and successfully—this: Patterson is the first person in her extended family to be in college, a first-generation higher education student.

Patterson, of Springfield, is entering her senior year as a marketing major with an economics minor and a marketing and promotional intern with the Wright State athletics department. Bowling and her becoming a Raider are linked. Initially, she did poorly in the former and received no encouragement to become the latter. Both changed.

Throughout high school, her bowling improved so much that colleges recruiters noticed and came calling. Higher education wasn’t in her plans, though. Patterson said no one on either side of her family ever attended college, and there was no encouragement for her to be the first.

Then as a high school senior, Wright State approached her, and she began to embrace the idea of furthering her education. “I thought maybe college would

be good, but I had doubts,” Patterson recalled. “After discussing it with my mom, she said I should try it—and if I didn’t like it, I didn’t have to do it forever.”

Patterson immediately embraced life as a Raider, living on campus and diving into university life. A self-described extrovert, Patterson said she went to as many events and activities as she could to get the full experience of being a collegian.

Aside from bowling—which has its demands through practice, weight training, and competitions, some of which involve travel—and her athletic department internship, Patterson serves on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, is the director of the NCAA affairs subcommittee, and takes part in the Emerging Marketing Leaders program and the Economics Club.

Patterson also attended last November’s on-campus National First-Generation College Celebration Day, noting those who, like her, are pioneers in a sense.

“I don’t feel that I stand out,” she said, referring to her being “first-gen,” “but when I think about it, it is a big deal, and it’s important.”

She added, “Wright State does a really good job celebrating and honoring all the different types of groups it attracts. There

is a wide variety of groups here, and the university does a good job hosting events.”

As for life after graduation, scheduled for the spring of 2026, Patterson aims to work in sports marketing, hopefully with a professional football or basketball team.

Patterson said she considers Wright State a home, and her parents are proud of her accomplishments.

“I love Wright State,” she said. “It’s the best experience.”

PAIGE PAT TERSON

36

WRIGHT STATE MAGAZINE | 20 25

SATURDAY, MARCH 15 18 SATURDAY, OCTOBER

EXPLORE WRIGHT STATE

We know Wright State University means a lot to you. It’s the years you spent making

EXPERIENCE ALL WRIGHT STATE HAS TO OFFER IN ONE VISIT.

lifelong friends, starting college traditions, and setting the stage for where you are now. We’re proud that our alumni are the strongest legacy of Wright State.

You can help high school students who are just like you were before coming to Wright State. Do you know a high school student

Students can discover how our nationally ranked academic programs can take them further.

Meet our community and build connections with faculty, staff, students, and fellow future Raiders.

looking at universities? Tell them they’re

Explore the heart of campus,

invited to Explore Wright State Day.

housing options, and dining halls with a current student.

It’s a great time to be a Raider!

wright.edu/explore WRIGHT.EDU/ALUMNI

37

SPRING GRAD FEST

CAMPUS SCHOLARSHIP AND INNOVATION CAMPAIGN KICKOFF

ATHLETICS PARTNERSHIP WITH SOUTHERN OHIO BREWING COMPANY

MAY DAZE CRAFT BREW FEST

SPRING 2025 GRADUATE AT ALUMNI TOWER

ALUMNI BEER TASTING

SEE YOU AT OUR NEXT EVENT?

It's never too late to come back home to Wright State! We offer a wide variety of activities for alumni to participate in!

Whether you are looking to travel, golf, taste a few brews, or hang with Rowdy, we got you covered!

SEE YOU AT OUR NEXT EVENT Visit wrightstatealumni.com/events for more information on how you can join the fun.

38

WRIGHT STATE MAGAZINE | 20 25

2025 GRADUATES

ALUMNI LEGACY GOLF OUTING

SPRING 2025 GRAD

ALUMNI LEGACY GOLF OUTING

MAY DAZE CRAFT BREW FEST

PRESIDENT SUE EDWARDS AND ROWDY AT THE ALUMNI LEGACY GOLF OUTING

SPRING GRAD FEST

ALUMNI BEER TASTING

ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNERS AT HOMECOMING

MAY DAZE CRAFT BREW FEST ALUMNI BEER TASTING

GRADUATES CELEBRATING

ROWDY AT HOMECOMING

ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNERS

FAREWELLS 2020s

Jake Fullard ’99

Kay Lillich ’82

Robert Clayton ’74

Adrienne Draper ’21

William Grunwald ’98

Susan Litfin ’89

Gerald Costanzo ’72

Hunter Hill ’24

Charles Haines ’97

Gregory Lude ’87

Kathleen Courtney ’77

Ava Jones ’21

Fred Hall ’92

Patricia Mahan ’83

Lorna Dawes ’77

Tiana Shepherd ’21

Mark Harden ’95

Bradley Marcum ’88

Albert Domingo ’77

Sharon Holloway ’94

Marlin Marcum ’86

Robert Earl ’79

Sara Hyatt ’97

Martha Mason-Helm ’84

Jarelyn Emerson ’72

Elaine Judy ’93

Kathleen McClimans ’89

Clarence Fairbanks ’77

David Klass ’94

Christopher Minch ’81

Glenn Fisher ’72

Eric Kraus ’94

Sally Morris ’80

Gail Fitzwater ’75

Julie Krupp ’97

Sharon Munday ’85

Margaret Flinn ’72

Jody Mapes ’97

Judith Neely ’89

Ted Flory ’70

Marjorie MacKeown ’92

Kathleen Peoples ’86

William Forsthoefel ’74

Kristiana Yager Thoman ’16

Alleen McFarlane-McCoy ’97

Frederick Peterson ’84

Deborah Frysinger ’75

Dorothy McGaha ’93

Tammy Potter ’85

Garrett Gall ‘74

2000s

John Reynolds ’91

Jeffrey Pound ’88

Monte Gardner ’78

Mary Rondeau ’95

Harald Rutkowski ’81

Michael Gillespie ’75

Judith Smith ’98

Paul Ryan ’89

Charlotte Handler ’73

Karen Smith ’96

Maureen Schuler ’87

Bethany Hearlihy ’75

Diana Tagg ’90

Barry Smith ’84

Vivienne Himmell ’72

Sean Tehan ’95

Douglas Smith ’87

Suzanne Hoelscher ’77

James Thein ’90

David Snyder ’87

Joan Hoying ’74

Julie Ventura ’93

Diane Stevens ’87

George Hoyng ’76

Douglas Vutai ’93

Julia Thogmartin ’84

Julie Hurlow ’76

Gilbert Wagner ’93

Christopher Tinsley ’82

Arlene Idlewine ’70

Bethany Woolums ’95

Robert Uttermohlen ’87

David Johnson ’77

Donald Walters ’81

Jim Johnson ’78

Brian Ward ’88

Matrin Jones ’74

Tim Adams ’87

Marlin Weisenbarger ’82

Ronald Jones ’77

Joel Arnold ’82

Joyce Wells ’84

Allan Knaup ’76

Michael Bailey ’81

Katherine Werner ’81

Timothy Krause ’78

Joseph Barcinas ’87

Christopher White ’85

Richard Landversicht ’73

Rosalind Bertolo ’85

John Wigger ’89

Henrietta Lubow ’71

Kenneth Blandford ’87

Carole Wild ’80

Robert Luken ’71

Joseph Bonamico ’85

Sharon Wilson ’81

Madlyn Malahy ’75

Sharon Bramble ’82

Deborah Windell ’84

Corinne Mansfield ’70

Jacob Tobias ’05

Dennis Brown ’83

Janet Yost ’84

Donald Mazak ’79

1990s

James Courtney ’88

1970s

Dennis Montague ’71

Paul Custodio ’86

Thelma Anderson ’73

Judy Montgomery ’73

Norman Atkinson ’77

Judith Mott ’77

Linda Banks ’70

Eleanor Must ’77

Sharon Behnken ’75

Helen Norton ’74

John Binkley ’70

Kathy Osterday ’77

Jeffery Bishop ’75

Joyce Rose ’72

Diane Brennen ’79

Lillian Rowland ’76

Raymond Bunch ’73

Edward Schacker ’76

Douglas Buck ’71

Jeanne Schafer ’78

Marsha Bush ’71

Donald Schmidt ’76

Betty Kreitzer ’83

Richard Caulfield ’71

Morris Seal ’73

Robert Landis ’81

Thomas Claringbold ’74

Judith Simpson ’78

Patricia Lapointe ’83

Thomas Clark ’77

2010s Shaun Hay ’12 Richard Lenhart ’10 Casey McClain ’11 Blair Rowley ’16 Karen Rupp ’13 Larry Slade ’13

John Angel ’07 Joseph Bartoszek ’09 Leslie Bautista ’05 Matthew Brooks ’09 Donald Bonnell ’04 Ronald Butcher ’05 Lorie Cooney ’05 John Copp ’01 Christina Gilpin ’05 Dale Grey ’00 Charles Hail ’02 Richard Hallbeck ’01 Brian Johnson ’03 Carlton Johnston ’07 Debra Kaduce ’00 Jonathan Murphy ’05 Joseph O’Connor ’04 Cynthia Parsons ’02 Wendi Rounsavall ’04 Brian Sommer ’06

Linda Andrew ’90 David Becker ’96 Gary Bedel ’90 Raejean Bowser ’99 Alberta Braun ’94 Glen Byrd ’90 Scott Crippen ’92 Kathy Dixon ’92 Edward Duke ’90 Patricia Enouen ’90 Nancy Eyink ’91 Ronald Fannin ’96

40

1980s

Phillip Combs ’87

Martin Fahrer ’89 Walter Gerano ’80 Albert Griffin ’81 Judith Haggy ’82 Janie Hasser ’88 Glenn James ’86 Brian Jones ’82 Flo Keaton ’85 Kraig Keller ’85

WRIGHT STATE MAGAZINE | 20 25

David McDaniel ’73

FAREWELLS Sheila Skimmerhorn ’70

William Tanner ’68

Robert K. Schul

Janel Smith ’76

Jane Willis ’68

Mark Sheets

Cheryl Snider ’77

Joyce Zigler ’68

Linda Su Shook

Arthur Snyder ’72 Paul Sonye ’74 Alvin Spacht ’72 Howard Stahl ’75 Maria Strasser-Brady ’73 James Summitt ’78 Janet Swaim ’74 Laura Tilton ’75

Leon James Testas

FACULTY AND STAFF Brady M. Allen Dr. Gary C. Barlow Dr. John P. Blair

Dr. Robert G. Thobaben Richard A. Upton Kay Doreen Wick Henry A. Wilson

Carol Ann Baumhauer Jeanne E. Cornor

Donald Thompson ’71

Lorna Dawes

Mary Vanderburgh ’75

Kenneth Davenport

Alfred Vislosky ’73

Dr. Oscar N. Garcia

faculty, staff, and retirees. This list was compiled

Jean Wagner ’77

Lois Gladchild

between February and June 2024. Please send all

William Waltersheide ’72

William M. Gordon

death notices to alumni_news@wright.edu.

James Wick ’70

William Grunwald Jr.

Paul Wieland ’71 Ann Wildemann ’74 Karen Wolf ’72 Ronald Wukeson ’78

1960s Patricia Donnelly ’69 Robert Klausmeier ’69 Eunice Kuhr ’69 Donald Schaffner ’69

We rely on family and newspaper obituaries to inform us of the passing of Wright State alumni,

Dr. Wilbur L. Hankey Robert Irwin Jerald Kay John M. Kimble Dr. Peter K. Lauf Richard Eugene Mercer Judy N. Rose Blair A. Rowley Nancy E. Schneberger

WRIGHT.EDU/ALUMNI

41

FAREWELLS

Karen Wolf ’72, ’81 Karen (Mellar) Wolf passed away on February 12, 2025. A proud alumna of Wright State, Karen earned her bachelor’s degree in 1972 and her master’s in 1981. She met her husband, Dwight, on campus and remained closely connected to the university throughout her life.

Karen was a passionate and deeply involved member of the Wright State University Alumni Association. An Original Charter Member, she served as President in 1978 and was honored as a Lifetime Member. She holds the distinction of being the longest-serving board member in the association’s history, with 26 years of dedicated service. Her presence was a constant at Wright State, attending theatre productions, basketball games, and a variety of campus events that celebrated the spirit of the Raider community. She was also an enthusiastic supporter of the Alumni Legacy Golf Outing, regularly participating in the event and lending her energy and enthusiasm to ensure its success.

Beyond Wright State, Karen lived a life full of service and adventure. A passionate educator, Karen taught at West Carrollton High School, where she was business department chair and a National Board-Certified Teacher. She also stayed active in her community through the Jayceettes, the Beavercreek Historical Society, and the LPGA (formerly Executive Women’s Golf), where she served as a golf course rater, which gave her the opportunity to play on many of the most exclusive courses in the Dayton area. She was also a passionate traveler, visiting all 50 states and several countries.

A lifelong learner and educator to the end, Karen made the generous decision to donate her body to the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine through its Anatomical Gift Program, ensuring that future generations of medical students will benefit from her final act of giving.

Karen Wolf was a beloved and devoted Raider.

Her legacy of leadership, service, and school spirit will live on through the community she helped shape.

Sheila Skimmerhorn ’67 ’70 Sheila Skimmerhorn passed away on October 13, 2024.

A proud two-time alumna, Sheila holds a special place in Wright State’s history as the first student to register at the new campus and the first to graduate with all her credits earned at Wright State, completing her degree in Spanish and History in 1967. She went on to earn her master’s in Curriculum Development in 1970.

For 54 years, Sheila taught Spanish in area schools, earning deep admiration from her students—many of whom affectionately called her “Skimmy.” Her classroom left a lasting impact, and she was recognized with multiple honors, including the Howard L. Post Excellence in Education Award.

She remained dedicated to service through her involvement with the Clark State Performing Arts Center, the DAR, the Pilot Club, and her church, where she served as Church Council President.

Sheila loved to travel, host holiday gatherings, and fulfilled her dream of holding a sloth in Honduras. Her final gift to education was the donation of her body to the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State.

A trailblazer, beloved teacher, and lifelong learner, Sheila’s legacy is one that embodies the very spirit of Wright State.

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WRIGHT STATE MAGAZINE | 20 25

RAIDER EVENTS UPCOMING EVENTS SEPT

SEPT OCT

6

30 - 1

VMAS Golf Outing

Wright Day to Give

Join us for the Fifth Annual Wright State University Veteran & Military Alumni Society (VMAS) Golf Outing sponsored in part by the Montgomery County Veterans Service Commission at Beavercreek Golf Club. Registration includes green fees, cart, one mulligan, two raffle tickets, three drink tickets, and a post-play meal provided by Tony & Pete's. Register at wrightstatevmas.com

Join us to honor our Founder’s Day, September 30 - October 1, as we celebrate our ninth annual giving challenge with alumni and friends. Support student scholarships and programs that are important to you.

NOV

MAY

8

Fall Alumni Service Day Alumni Service Day is an opportunity for our alumni, friends, and family to give back to the community and further Wright State’s longstanding tradition of community service.

11-12

Join us in 2026 as we cruise the Mediterranean!

See the world with your fellow Wright State Alumna!

Dates for our 2026 trips have been released! Visit wrightstatealumni.com/travel for more information.

FUTURE EVENTS

Alumni Beer Tasting January Wright State Homecoming February May Daze Craft Beer Fest May

50th Alumni Legacy Golf Outing June Lake Campus Wine Festival June

We also will have travel tours, virtual events, and much more. Be sure to check out wrightstatealumni.com/events regularly for updated information and ways you can attend.

Alumni Kings Island Day June WRIGHT.EDU/ALUMNI

43

CLASS NOTES

’71 ’73

R OBERT ARNOLD (B.S.) has retired after 40 years as a Southern Baptist Chaplain for the VA Medical Centers in Iowa.

JOAN CHAPPELLE (M.Ed.) has been honored with the MLK Peacemaker Award, Yellow Springs, OH.

’76

JAMES PRICHARD (B.A.) is a freelance writer for the Courier-Journal in Louisville, KY and the author of Embattled Capital: Frankfort, Kentucky in the Civil War.

’79

MARY CAMPBELL-ZOPF (B.S.) is retiring after an eight-year tenure with the Muse Machine of Dayton, OH.

’82

DOUGLAS ADKINS (B.S.) has joined a Scientific Advisory Board of Purple Biotech. Ltd on their study of Head & Neck Cancer. DIANE ORLOFSKY (M.M.) has been inducted into Alabama Music Educators Association Hall of Fame, Auburn, AL.

’85

J OHN KRONOUR (B.S.) has been

named Director of Sport Management for OHSAA (Ohio High School Athletic Association).

’86

ANNETTE CLAYTON (B.S.) has been elected to the board of directors of Nordson Corporation, Westlake, OH. JERRY VAN SCHAIK (B.A.) has written a novel on the “life” of a coffee house The Trier.

’87 ’88 ’89 ’90 ’91 ’92

B RADLEY COBB (B.S.) has been appointed a circuit court judge to the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Wayne County, MI. R OBERT FOOKES (B.S.EG) is a

member of the Senior Executive Service and top engineer at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Dayton, OH. LINDA ORWIC (M.Ed.) received the Excellence in Teaching Award for 2025.

She teaches in Springfield, OH. SCOTT ALLENDEVAUX (B.A.) owns

and operates the Socialite Café in Kettering, OH.

PAUL LITHGOW (EG) has been hired by

Radiance Technologies as Vice President Space Group Manager, Huntsville, AL.

NATALIE DUNLEVEY (B.A.) is CEO of

National Processing Solutions, Dayton, OH. MICHELLE ROUCH (B.S.EE) has published three (3) children’s books: “First Flight”, “Astronaut Al travels to the Moon”, and “Railroad to the Moon”. ANNIE SOBEL (M.S.) has joined the Institute for Defense Analysis (IDA) as an Adjunct Research Staff Member in the Global Dynamics and Intelligence Division, Alexandria, VA.

44

WRIGHT STATE MAGAZINE | 20 25

’93 ’95

T RACI CARTE (B.S.) has been presented

the Association of Information Systems (AIS) Fellow Award at Illinois State University, Normal, IL.

LORI SWAFFORD (M.Ed.) has been hired as the new Northeastern Elementary School principal, Clark County, OH.

’96

JENNIFER NIX (B.S.) has joined Frontier Technology, Inc. as Vice President of Information Advantage.

SRIDHAR RAMASWAMY (M.S.EG) is CEO of Snowflake, the Data Cloud Company, San Mateo, CA. KENNETH STARKEY (Psy.D.) has written a book “Indiana Boy: Memoir of a Psychologist”. He practices in Mobile, AL. JACK STOUT (M.S.) has been appointed Chief Merchandising Officer for Petco, San Diego, CA.

’97

ADEE MCANINCH (B.A.) has joined

Verkada as head of Global Channel Marketing, San Mateo, CA. LOIS STOLL (MED) has been appointed the executive director of the Logan County Education Foundation, Bellefontaine, OH.

’98

DAVID JEZEWSKI (B.A.) JENNIFER JOPLIN (M.F.A.) has played the lead in

The Match Game in Cincinnati’s Ensemble Theatre, spring of 2024. K ARI O'REILLY (B.F.A.) has produced the independent film “Wildcat,” based on the life and short stories of Flannery O’Connor.

’99

THOMAS BELANICH (B.S.B.) has been named the new leader of EGC Construction in Newport, KY. STACEY BENSON-TAYLOR (B.A.) has been approved to be the assistant business manger for Dayton Public Schools, Dayton, OH. KYLE HALL (B.S.) has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of Clark State College, Springfield, OH. MARLON HOWARD (BASED) has been named Superintendent for Trotwood-Madison Schools, Trotwood, OH. ALICE TEALL (M.S.) has been appointed the Senior Director of Wellness at Kenyon College, Gambier, OH.

’00

KEITH BEARD (Psy.D.) has received the

Distinguished Service Award from Marshall University, Huntington, WV. JEANNETTE HORWITZ (M.A.) is the coordinator of Welcome Dayton in the city’s Dept. of Planning, Neighborhoods & Development, Dayton, OH. BRIAN YONTZ (M.S.) has been recognized with Springfield City School District Alumni of Distinction Award, Springfield, OH.

’01

TOM K. LIN (M.D.) has been appointed

by Rady Children’s Hospital, Medical Director of Pediatric Interventional Endoscopy and Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego, CA.

’02

BRITTANT BRAND (B.S.) is Director for Boise State Hazard and Climate Resilience Institute and a professor at Boise State University, Boise, ID. MICHAEL CLARK (B.S.) has joined the law office of Smith Currie Oles LLP, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

CHRIS COOK (B.S.) has been appointed Clark County Health Commissioner, Springfield, OH.

’03

MARK BENEDICT (B.S.) is the 2023 recipient of the Military Additive Manufacturing (MILAM), 3D Printing Lifetime Achievement Award at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH. KELLY BROWN (B.S.) has received the Excellence in Teaching Award for teaching at Catholic Central, Springfield, OH. CHRIS PIPER (B.S.) is superintendent of Troy City Schools, Troy, OH. DHAVAL SHAH (M.S.EG) is Executive Vice President and Market Head at CitiusTech in Princeton, N.J.

’04 ’07

SALLY STOLLY (M.Ed.) is a founding member of The Logan County Angels, Bellefontaine, OH.

VERONICA FORD (B.S.) has been named in Kansas City’s Ingram’s Business Magazine to the 26th class of 40 Under Forty, Kansas City, MO. MATHEW SAYLER (BASED) is principal of Oakwood High School, Oakwood, OH.

’08

IAN BOCK (B.S.) runs Bock Family Brewing in Centerville, OH. KUANG CHANG (M.D.) has been recognized as a Top Doctor by Modern Luxury Medicine & Doctors magazine in Athens, GA. JOSEPH FULTZ (M.Ed) has received the Excellence in Teaching Award for teaching in Springfield City Schools, Springfield, OH. SABA QURESHI (B.S.) received the 2024 Family Physician Mentorship Award from The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians Foundation. K ATIE SMIDDY (M.P.A.) is the City Manager for Oakwood, OH.

’09

KRAIG HAGLER (B.S.N.) has been appointed as interim Greene County Auditor, Xenia, OH. THOMAS MASSIE (B.S.) has been hired as Treasurer for Xenia Community Schools, Xenia, OH. JENNIFER PLUMLEE (B.A.) has been named Vice President for Access and Student Success at Marian University, Indianapolis, IN. JENIFER ROBINSON (M.Ed) has been selected as the new principal of Fairbrook Elementary School, Beavercreek, OH.

’10

AUBREE KUSHMAUL (B.S.Ed.) has been named the assistant principal at Kenton Ridge campus, Springfield, OH. PAUL STABLER (B.S.) has been named by Ohio Health as president of Van Wert Hospital, Van Wert, OH.

’11

ADAM BILLET (M.Ed.) has been appointed assistant superintendent of Clark-Shawnee Local School District, Springfield, OH. DARIEN CRAGO (B.F.A.) will be preforming in Some Like it HOT at Hollywood Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, CA this summer.

JOSHUA HAYES (B.A.) is Vice President of Human Resources at Wright-Patt Credit Union, Dayton, OH. KENISHA (WEBB) JOHNSON (B.A.) received the 11th VOICE Arts Award for “outstanding commercial – best voiceover”. JAY REYNOLDS (B.A.) has been hired as the new principal of Ankeney Middle School, Beavercreek, OH.

CLASS NOTES

’12

ANDREW BOLLINGER (M.B.A.) has joined Beckhoff USA as IPC Product Manager, Savage, MN. DANNY HENRY (B.S.N.) has opened the Pulp restaurant in Fairborn, OH. SEAN HOHENSTEIN (B.S.) co-owner of SpeedPro Dayton has expanded to Columbus, OH. JUSTIN PARKER (B.S.) has been hired as Mississippi State’s baseball interim coach, Starkville, MS.

’13

LESLEY BROSE (CERT) has been

named President and CEO of Eastway Behavioral Healthcare in Dayton, OH. WILL HOSKINS (BASED) has been named Head Boys Basketball Coach at Coldwater High School, Coldwater, OH.

’14

KEITH BRICKING (M.B.A.) is chief clinical officer at Premier Health in Dayton, OH. MICHEL'LE CURINGTON (M.Ed.) owns and operates Fail Me Not Tutoring, LLC in Riverside, OH. BRYAN KOESTERS (B.A.) has been promoted to Sergeant with the Minster Police Department, Minster, OH. BRITTANY SHYNE (B.F.A.) has won the Grand Jury Prize in Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival.

’15

MICHELLE RICK (B.S.) has been hired as head coach of Robert Morris University women’s soccer program, Moon Township, PA. LANICK A SHEPHERDMASEY (M.Ed) is principal of Gem City Career Prep High School, Dayton, OH. CODY TUCKER (B.A.) has written his first novel OMEGA RUMOR. He resides in Bluffton, OH.

’18

NICOLE GARDNER (M.A.) has been named the new Assistant Director of Athletics for Kenyon College, Gambier, OH. SARA STEIMLE (B.S.) has been appointed to the Leadership Council of the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Cleveland, OH.

’19 ’20

’22

TASSY KIRBAS (B.F.A.) has been chosen for the cast of the re-imagined Broadway production of “The Who’s TOMMY”.

Share your success with fellow alumni.

Submit your class notes and updates at wrightstatealumni.com/classnotes.

LEXXIE ARNOLD (B.A.) is the executive director of Kids in New Directions (KIND) in Dayton, OH. S ARA MAGOTEAUX (M.Ed) was

awarded Piqua City Schools, District Teacher of the Year for 2023-2024, Piqua, OH.

KEVIN SCHMIDT ’11 Artificial intelligence algorithms that fly F-16 fighter jets and autonomous systems delivering critical medical supplies in combat zones are among the cutting-edge technologies being developed by a Wright State University graduate whose journey began in Hamilton Hall.

Kevin Schmidt, Ph.D., now a senior neuroscientist on the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Autonomy Capability Team 3 based at WrightPatterson Air Force Base, credits his success to the foundation built during his time at Wright State.

While pursuing his behavioral neuroscience degree at Wright State, Schmidt found more than just academic achievement — he discovered a supportive community and crucial mentorship that would shape his future.

He worked particularly closely with behavioral neuroscience professors Dragana Claflin, Ph.D., his honors thesis advisor, and Patricia Schiml, Ph.D., and Michael Hennessy, Ph.D. Schmidt also has fond memories of psychology professors Herbert Colle, Ph.D., and Martin Gooden, Ph.D. “It is a blessing to have people like that in your life. They were good to me,” Schmidt said. “Now, I mentor others and enjoy it. I certainly appreciate those who did it for me.”

The hands-on research experiences at Wright State proved invaluable for Schmidt’s development. He recalled collaborating with Hennessy and Schiml on a study examining factors that reduce stress in sheltered dogs, one of his first formal research experiences.

Today, though stationed in New Haven, Connecticut, Schmidt maintains strong ties to the Dayton region through his work with AFRL and WrightPatterson Air Force Base, keeping him connected to his alma mater.

His work sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence and human performance. As part of the Autonomy Capability Team 3 (ACT 3), considered the Air Force Research Lab’s premier artificial intelligence research team, Schmidt helps develop technologies that will define the future of both the Air Force and Space Force.

“There are tools that are needed and lives can be saved right now,” he said.

“The big thrust now is how these AI tools can assist medical decision making and logistics. But there is also a longerterm aspect of these tools that we are envisioning for the next generation of AI. There is certainly a great deal to delve into right now.”

Through Autonomous Air Combat Operations, ACT3 develops algorithms that control F-16 aircraft autonomously.

ACT3 also oversees a space program that integrates measures of human performance. Another critical project involves autonomous aerial refueling, delivering fuel at the right time and location.

“The same algorithms that are used for aerial refueling can be used for medical resupply. So, it comes down to developing algorithms that scale across mission areas,” he said.

When Schmidt gets a break from the lab, he is an avid rock and mountain climber, an interest first kindled during his time at Wright State.

“I grew up in Cincinnati doing it here and there, and then Wright State has a rock-climbing wall. I really got into it there,” Schmidt said. “I started visiting Red River Gorge in Kentucky, and it was a natural evolution into mountain and glacier-style climbing. My interest has just continued to grow through the years.”

As Schmidt continues to push boundaries in his professional work, he remains deeply connected to the institution that helped launch his career.

“I go the extra mile for Wright State because I am thankful for the people there and my experience,” he said. “That is where my career started.”

Update your information with the Alumni Association to receive the monthly Alumni Insider e-newsletter, full of events, athletics updates, and university news. Visit wrightstatealumni.com/updatemyinfo to add updated information.

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CLASS NOTES

MAX CLARK ’04

BY MEGAN MCMORRIS

Max Clark is a person who believes that everything happens for a reason.

He believes in serendipity, in reading the signs to follow the next step in front of you, even if you don’t know exactly where it might lead.

In fact, this life philosophy is what the 49-year-old Wright State Boonshoft School of Medicine 2004 grad credits for getting him to where he is today: chief physician of Disney Cruise Line.

It seems like his path to Disney was destined all along, even if the route to get there was circuitous at times.

OHIO BACKGROUND, WANDERLUST SPIRIT While Clark spent his high school years in Beavercreek, he was born in California at Travis Air Force Base (his dad is an Air Force physician), and grew up in Ogden, Utah; Cherry Hill, New Jersey; and Biloxi, Mississippi.

“That was all before I started third grade,” he said. “My parents loved to travel overseas, too, and they planted a travel bug in me as well.”

He originally chose Miami University for undergrad, expected to study economics. “Growing up, I preferred social studies—history and geography—and did not expect to pursue medicine,” he said.

One memorable class at Miami clued him in to his potential future in medicine: A human physiology professor noticed his talent and encouraged him to pursue medicine. “In the back of my mind, I always thought medicine was interesting, of course, because, after all, I grew up around it,” he said.

While he has always been a natural student, it was at Miami where he first felt that existential “where do I belong” feeling. “It was a really good school, but socially it wasn’t the right fit for me,” he recalled. “It’s fratheavy, and I’m the antithesis of a frat guy. I just wasn’t finding my place.”

Returning to Beavercreek, he decided to continue his collegiate education at Wright State, which was a familiar stomping ground (his dad is associate professor emeritus of medicine).

Going back to his “hometown” college suited him. For one thing, as a self-described night owl, he enjoyed the flexibility of the university's night classes. And with a built-in social network of high school friends already attending Wright State, it felt more at home for him.

Still, he carried around that niggling feeling of wondering where he belonged.

“I was still figuring out who I was and where my place was in the world,” he said. As his med school peers started choosing their specialties, the only thing he knew for certain was that he wasn’t ready to start a practice. “I didn’t know where I fit in with medicine,” he said.

“Frankly, I was starting to panic.”

Then, he found a perfect solution that allowed him to practice general medicine and gave him an opportunity to explore the world: He enlisted in the Navy.

A 20-YEAR ODYSSEY LEADS HIM HOME Clark’s first stop in the Navy was San Diego, which had a “meant to be” factor. “It felt like it turned out the way it was supposed to be,” he said. “I met some amazing people and made lifelong friends.”

The Navy certainly allowed him to fulfill his wanderlust dreams. In addition to San Diego, he has been stationed in Key West; Hawaii; Japan; Bethesda, Maryland; and Oceanside, California.

Clark would go on to have a 20-year Naval career, adding a master’s degree in health systems and administration at Georgetown and a master’s degree in public health as part of his residency in preventive health through the Uniformed Services University.

He considers the height of his 20-year Naval career to be the time he spent with health policy in the Naval Headquarters. “I got to work with very impressive leaders,” said Clark, who was tasked with drafting the Navy’s transgender policy under President Obama.

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On paper, it seems like he had done it all. Yet all this time, there was one more experience that had eluded him: He wanted to work for Disney.

NEXT STOP: DISNEY “We were Disney freaks,” Clark recounts, speaking of himself and his high school friend Steve Hankins (also a Wright State grad, 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in accountancy). “We were obsessed with working in their college program, and didn’t care if we sold T-shirts, we just wanted to work there.”

While his Disney dreams were put on hold as his medical and military career took off, the desire to work at Disney was still in the back of his mind. He even worked part time for two years as an occupational medicine physician at Disneyland while stationed in California.

Then, last year, everything seemed to align at once. Just as he was retiring from a 20-year Naval career, Disney Cruise Lines was expanding and they were looking to bring a medical director in-house.

“2024 was a banner year for me,” he said. “I retired after a 20-year career, moved across country to Disney HQ in Orlando, and had a child,” he said of son Samson with wife Jennifer.

His job at Disney entails leading the shipboard medical teams and providing clinical oversight of patient care. “Every day is a new challenge; the people, the conditions, and external factors are always changing,” he said.

There have already been moments of drama on the high seas. Clark was on board the Disney Treasure when it was summoned 230 miles off the coast of Bermuda to assist a sinking catamaran in November 2024. “It was exciting to see the crew respond and to see how well trained they are to respond to emergencies, so the best thing I could do was get out of the way.”

Speaking with Clark, it’s clear that he takes the Disney magic seriously— and that he’s found his true calling. “I may be biased, but I do think Disney Cruises does the best job of creating the ‘Disney Bubble’ and providing that Disney magic, even during a medical experience.”

WRIGHT STATE ATHLETICS The 2024-25 academic year has been a busy one for Wright State Athletics, both on the fields of competition for our current Raiders as well as our Raider alumni continuing to do great things.

Wright State graduate Joylynn Brown became just the fourth Director of Athletics in Wright State history, and the first woman to assume the role, when she was named to the position last July. A volleyball student-athlete for the Raiders from 1989-92, she also coached the volleyball program and has been a part of Wright State’s athletics administration team since 2014.

The Raiders partnered with Southern Ohio Brewing and Wright State graduate James Williams to produce the first-ever Raider branded beer over the fall, with the Rowdy Blonde Ale released at the beginning of basketball season after rounds of voting and tastings to decide the first Raider brew. The Rowdy Blonde Ale is available at Wright State sporting events, Southern Ohio Brewing and local restaurants with pouring rights.

The Stars, Stripes, Flight Classic series was also introduced this season, with the Raiders facing the Air Force Academy on the hardwood and baseball diamond in a pair of matchups that celebrated the region's veterans and active-duty military, along with Wright State’s partnership with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and strong ties to the military. Wright State’s largest crowd since 2009, the basketball contest drew 9,672 fans into the Nutter Center.

Brown created Wright State’s first National Girls and Women in Sports Day networking luncheon in February, bringing together 110 current Raider student-athletes and staff with over 30 leaders from the community, including Wright State alumni.

Away from campus, Wright State men’s basketball alums Tanner

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR JOYLYNN BROWN WITH ROWDY

Holden and Loudon Love are each currently playing in the NBA G League, with the pair facing off on the court February 7 and 8, 2025.

This marked the first time two Raiders players played against each other in the G League and was just the second time Wright State alums have played against each other professionally in the United States, joining several meetings between Joe Smith and Sean Murphy on the baseball diamond. In addition to Holden and Love in the NBA G League, Wright State continues to have a multitude of Raiders who have continued their basketball careers overseas on the men’s and women’s side.

Spring also signals the start of baseball season, with Murphy (Atlanta Braves) and Jesse Scholtens (Chicago White Sox) solidified as Major Leaguers to lead a crop of Raider alums playing professional baseball.

Former Wright State standouts Tyler Black (Milwaukee Brewers organization) and Quincy Hamilton (Houston Astros organization) each began the 2025 season in Triple A one step from the majors, highlighting a group of nearly 15 Raider alums currently in the minor leagues.

WRIGHT STATE BASEBALL VS. USAF TEAM

WRIGHT.EDU/ALUMNI

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FROM THE STACKS

Reimagining The Libraries Into a Hub of Student Engagement

BY JANE WILDERMUTH, UNIVERSITY LIBRARIAN

Over the past academic year, University Libraries’ staff focused on making Dunbar Library a hub of engagement for students.

Recognizing the importance of fostering a sense of belonging, a variety of activities designed to engage students, teach new skills, build relationships, and provide opportunities for fun were introduced.

The Libraries launched several new initiatives to attract students during the 2024 Fall Semester. The semester kicked off with the annual game night, co-hosted with the Table-Top Club, welcoming students with board games and a prize raffle. A new series of events called “crafternoons” was introduced where students were invited to learn new crafts, including cupcake decorating for Halloween, card making on Valentine's Day, and knitting, complete with starter kits to take home.

Additionally, families were welcomed to the Dunbar Library on Family Weekend, offering pumpkin carving, bingo, a movie, and tours of the Archives to learn about Wright State’s history.

This event was co-hosted by the Division of Student Affairs.

Another collaboration was with the University Activities Board for a fun-filled Bingo Night. A new Book Chat series for students to discuss their favorite books was also introduced.

In November, the Libraries welcomed Dunbar Café, a fullservice coffee bar. Responding to students’ requests, the Café provides coffee and snacks, offering a convenient way to refuel while studying.

More exciting changes are underway at Dunbar Library.

The first phase includes upgrades to the Special Collections and Archives, featuring improvements to the preservation

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WRIGHT STATE MAGAZINE | 20 25

environment and new furnishings—made possible through generous contributions from private and business donors, the State of Ohio, the Friends of the Libraries, and the National Aviation Heritage Alliance. Once these upgrades are complete, the focus will shift to additional improvements throughout the library, including enhanced study spaces and new entry doors.

In June 2025, the University Libraries, along with all OhioLINK libraries, migrated to a new cloud-based library system. This modern platform will enhance library user experiences and services, improve efficiencies for day-to-day operations, and streamline collaboration with other consortia libraries. The system includes an online catalog that provides access to library resources, including e-books and e-journals, articles, physical books, media, and more. It also controls day-to-day library operations such as checking out materials, cataloging, and acquisitions.

Through these initiatives, University Libraries continue to reimagine what can be done for the Wright State campus.

The vision is to become a more dynamic and engaging space, dedicated to enriching the students’ experience and supporting academic success.

2025

Announcing the winners of the 2025 Wright State Alumni Association Alumni Achievement Awards!

The Alumni Association celebrates the accomplishments of Wright State alumni. These outstanding individuals are recognized for numerous accomplishments in their chosen fields. In addition to possessing high standards of integrity and character, they have also given their time and talent to benefit the university.

Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award: Nicholas Bambakidis MD ’93 Alumnus of the Year Award: Scott Bauer ‘04, ’05

Tony Alexander Volunteer Service Award: Christopher Moyer ’85, ’86 Graduate of the Last Decade Award: Christina Hale ’17

Honorary Alumnus Award: Jonas Gruenberg

Outstanding Alumna Award: Julianne Nesbit ’05, Boonshoft School of Medicine

Outstanding Alumnus Award: Michael Bennett ’90, ’95, College of Engineering and Computer Science Outstanding Alumna Award: Emily Morgan ’95, College of Health, Education, and Human Services

Outstanding Alumnus Award: Morgan O’Brien ’07, College of Liberal Arts

Outstanding Alumna Award: Amina Pollard ‘97, College of Science and Mathematics

Outstanding Alumna Award: Lindsay Aitchison ’11, Graduate Programs and Honors Studies

Outstanding Alumna Award: Lucy Staugler ‘79, ‘88, Lake Campus

Outstanding Alumnus Award: Joseph Jessup ’98, Raj Soin College of Business

Submit a nomination for next year’s Wright State University Alumni Achievement Awards at: wrighstatealumni.com

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