It’s possible the turtle population could be made up entirely of one sex as a result of warming temperatures, according to an evolutionary ecologist and global change biologist at The University of Toledo.

Dr. Jeanine Refsnider, assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences, will take on the topic in her lecture titled “Can Reptiles Survive Climate Change?” 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17 at the UT Lake Erie Center, 6200 Bayshore Rd. in Oregon.

The event is part of the UT Lake Erie Center Fall Lecture Series.

“Although we rarely hear about them, reptiles are particularly vulnerable to climate change,” Refsnider said. “Reptiles are entirely dependent on the environment around them to regulate their body temperature. If air temperatures become too warm, reptiles can suffer heat stress and even death.”

The scientist says in many reptiles – including most Ohio turtles – the sex of juveniles is determined entirely by the temperature in the nest during egg incubation.

“Therefore, climate change could result in reptile populations made up entirely of one sex,” Refsnider said.

The public is invited to Refsnider’s free lecture about how reptiles are coping with climate change around the world and here in Toledo.

The University of Toledo is one of seven Ohio universities participating in a project designed to optimize career outcomes for minority students who choose to pursue doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

With $3.1 million in support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Northern Ohio Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (NOA-AGEP) was created to increase the number of underrepresented minority students completing STEM doctoral degrees and prepare them for entry into the professoriate.

The NOA-AGEP project is led by Case Western University with UT, Bowling Green State University, Cleveland State University, Kent State University, the University of Akron and Youngstown State University serving as contributing members.

UT will receive $288,164 to support its role in the program.

La’Nese Lovings, chemistry; Cora Lind-Kovacs, professor and associate chair of chemistry and biochemistry; Maura Graves, cell and molecular biology; W. Scott Crawley, assistant professor of biological sciences; Tomer Avidor-Reiss, associate professor of biological sciences; David Baliu-Rodriguez, chemistry

“Collaborating with the other universities to develop this project over the past four years has laid a solid foundation for the networking and mentoring of the AGEP Scholars selected to participate in this program,” said Dr. Patricia Komuniecki, the initial primary investigator of the grant who retired this year as vice provost for graduate affairs and dean of the College of Graduate of Studies “Each university will contribute to the project in its own unique way, sharing its strengths with the other participating members. UT will host all the NOA-AGEP participants next spring at the annual Midwest Graduate Research Symposium.”

Thirty students across northern Ohio have been selected to participate. Six new doctoral students were selected as AGEP Scholars at UT and enrolled in the cohort with the start of the fall 2016 semester.

The 42-month research project entitled, “Collaborative Research: Northern Ohio AGEP-T: A Racially and Ethnically Inclusive Graduate Education Model in Biology, Chemistry and Engineering” will explore best practices for supporting the cohort through a variety of activities.

“We are studying a model that includes a variety of mentoring, networking, diversity and professional development activities designed to optimize the academic success of our scholars and explore pathways into the professoriate,” said Dr. Susan Pocotte, associate dean for Academic Affairs and current principal investigator of the grant. “Through this program, NOA-AGEP is developing best practices and creating new benchmarks that provide support for underrepresented minority students and can be expanded to the entire graduate community.”

The AGEP scholars have received tuition scholarships and will receive stipends for completing training activities and attending mentoring workshops. Each has been paired with a professor who serves as a mentor in the student’s field of study.

Shermel Sherman, molecular medicine; Kandace Williams, professor, associate dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences Graduate Program and director of cancer biology track; Ethel Tackie-Yarboi, medicinal chemistry; Isaac Schiefer, assistant professor of medicinal and biological chemistry

“I think the mentoring relationship is going to be the most valuable part of the program for me,” said Ethel Tackie-Yarboi, second year doctoral student in medicinal chemistry.  “I’m still fine-tuning my educational pathway and now I don’t feel like I have to go it alone. I have a dedicated faculty member to guide me through the process and help me explore my options.”

Students also will participate in professional development training activities throughout the length of the program.

“We will teach them how to build relationships and network in their field,” said Teresa Green, COGS graduate academic services specialist and site coordinator for NOA-AGEP. “They will also receive coaching to hone their writing and publishing skills in preparation for grant writing and research reporting, which are important skills to develop in those considering a career in the professoriate.”

These relationships have already proven invaluable to the program’s participants.

“Chemists spend a lot of time alone in the lab,” said La’Nese Lovings, first year doctoral student in chemistry.  “NOA-AGEP has given me the opportunity to meet other students and introduced me to other disciplines. We share our research, question each other’s methods and debate our work. I’m looking forward to meeting other researchers in the chemistry field when we attend conferences.”

Lovings will present her research, “Synthesis and Characterization of Al_xSc_2-xMo₃O₁₂ Using Non-Hydrolytic Sol-Gel Methods” at the Louis Stokes Midwest Center of Excellence Conference and the National Organization for Professional Development of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers.

“I am excited to share my work and to learn from others,” she said. “I am hopeful that the connections I make will lead to lifelong mentorship opportunities and give me a multitude of people to and share ideas with as I move forward in my career.”

The University of Toledo has been recognized as a top school for supporting student veterans.

Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs, STEM JobsSM and Military Spouse, announced today that UT earned the 2017 Military Friendly School designation.

First published in 2009, the Military Friendly Schools list each year helps service members and their families select the best college, university or trade school to receive the education and training needed to pursue a civilian career.

“Our ability to apply a clear, consistent standard to the majority of colleges gives veterans a comprehensive view of which schools are striving to provide the best opportunities and conditions for our nation’s student veterans,” said Daniel Nichols, a Navy Reserve veteran and chief product officer at Victory Media. “Military Friendly helps military families make the best use of the Post-9/11 GI Bill and other federal benefits while allowing us to further our goal of assisting them in finding success in their chosen career fields.”

Institutions that earn the designation are evaluated using both public data sources and responses to a Victory Media survey. More than 1,600 schools participated in the 2017 survey and 1,160 were awarded the designation. To view the 2017 recipients, visit militaryfriendly.com. 

“We are grateful for our student veterans’ service to our nation and the positive impact they have on our University and in our communities,” said Navy Reserve Lt. Haraz N. Ghanbari, UT director of military and veteran affairs. “Being named a Military Friendly School reflects the University’s commitment to honoring our veterans and helping them succeed.”

Military Times and Military Advanced Education & Transition also recognized UT in their 2017 rankings for the service and support provided to service members, veterans and their families.

Military Times lists UT in its Best for Vets: Colleges 2017 rankings that evaluate the factors that make colleges and universities a good fit for members of the military and veterans.

Military Advanced Education & Transition named UT a top school in its 2017 Guide to Colleges & Universities research study.

The University of Toledo’s Military Service Center provides accessible educational and degree completion opportunities and a range of customized support services to service members and veterans, including educational benefit processing, mentoring, advocacy and networking. The center also partners closely with veteran service organizations to assist with the transition from military service to the classroom.

For more information, the Military Service Center can be reached at 419.530.VETS (8387) or online at utoledo.edu/military.

The Student Veterans of America UT Chapter will host today an American flag retirement ceremony outside the Lancelot Thompson Student Union.

The University of Toledo students will share the history of the flag, the proper way to dispose of a flag that is no longer suitable for display, and preside over the retirement of several American flags at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 10 on the steps outside the Union.

The flag retirement ceremony is part of a series of events at the University to honor veterans and active military for their service.

The 12th annual Veterans Appreciation Breakfast and Resource Fair will take place at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11 in Savage Arena. Doors open at 8 a.m.

Lucas County Sheriff John Tharp, a Vietnam veteran who received the Bronze Star for his service as a combat medic, will give a keynote address for the appreciation event on Veterans Day that includes a breakfast and fair to provide the community access to military-focused resources.

Two World War II veterans — Army Sgt. Richard Perry, UT professor emeritus, and Pfc. David Schwartz — also will be awarded the French Legion of Honor, the highest award that can be bestowed by the French government. Consul General Vincent Floreani from the French Consulate in Chicago will present the honors to the local veterans designating them as models of French civic service.

Following the annual appreciation event, UT also will unveil new markers at the UT Veterans Memorial Plaza, an outdoor area that honors individuals and groups who served in the U.S. military. The new Gold Star Memorial and Blue Star Memorial markers pay tribute to the Gold Star families whose loved ones paid the ultimate price defending the country and to those Blue Star families who have defended, are defending, or will defend the United States of America.

After voters elected Donald Trump the nation’s 45^th president, University of Toledo experts in constitutional law and international politics are available to discuss the impact of the Republican’s victory on the U.S. Supreme Court, executive orders and foreign relations.

Trump will be in a position to fill the current vacancy on the Supreme Court to replace Justice Antonin Scalia and up to three more over the course of his presidency, according to Lee Strang, the John W. Stoepler Professor of Law and Values at the UT College of Law.

“Donald Trump has the once-in-a-century opportunity to remake the Supreme Court,” Strang said. “During the campaign, Trump identified his potential nominees, which was a key move to maintain his electoral coalition. Now, up to four of them will solidify a conservative majority to interpret the Constitution according to its original meaning.”

Rebecca Zietlow, the Charles W. Fornoff Professor of Law and Values in the UT College of Law, is available to discuss “what Trump can do unilaterally, especially court appointments and executive orders.”

Joel Voss, assistant professor of political science, is available to discuss international politics.

“Trump’s presidential win creates unease internationally,” Voss said. “His win creates a whole list of possibilities, but it’s hard to guess what will happen.”

Two World War II veterans will be recognized during a special ceremony at the annual Veterans Appreciation Breakfast and Resource Fair at The University of Toledo, where the community honors veterans and active military for their service.

Army Sgt. Richard Perry, UT professor emeritus, and Pfc. David Schwartz will be awarded the French Legion of Honor, the highest award that can be bestowed by the French government.

The special recognition is part of the 12th annual Veterans Day celebration that will take Friday, Nov. 11, place 9 a.m. in Savage Arena on UT’s Main Campus. Lucas County Sheriff John Tharp, a Vietnam veteran who received the Bronze Star for his service as a combat medic, will give a keynote address for the appreciation event that includes a breakfast and fair to provide the community access to military-focused resources.

Consul General Vincent Floreani from the French Consulate in Chicago will present the honors to the local veterans designating them as models of French civic service. The French Legion of Honor is founded on the principles of rewarding individual merit, universal recognition, and contribution to the public good and is awarded to people who have carried out actions of great value.

“It is important for the community to come together to show appreciation for the men and women who have served our country, and this year we have the great opportunity to welcome a representative of the French government to join us in doing so as they recognize two local World War II veterans with their highest honor,” said Navy Reserve Lt. Haraz N. Ghanbari, director of military and veteran affairs at UT.

Perry served 57 years at UT teaching education courses and holding various administrative positions. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943 and was honorably discharged in 1946 with the rank of sergeant. He then earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from UT and began his career at his alma mater.

He was presented last year with the Soldier’s Medal during a ceremony at UT that was awarded for his bravery during a 1945 explosion of an ammunition trailer in Germany during which he carried injured men to safety and removed unexploded ammunition to protect others. Perry also has received a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars, including one for valor.

Following the annual appreciation event, UT also will unveil new markers at the UT Veterans Memorial Plaza, an outdoor area that honors individuals and groups who served in the U.S. military. The new Gold Star Memorial and a Blue Star Memorial markers installed at the plaza pay tribute to the Gold Star families whose loved ones paid the ultimate price defending the country and to those Blue Star families who have defended, are defending, or will defend the United States of America.

The University has long been recognized as a military friendly school for its commitment to providing exceptional service and support to the nation’s service members, veterans and their families.

In 2017, UT was again recognized by Military Times in its Best for Vets: Colleges 2017 rankings and by Military Advanced Education & Transition as a top school in its 2017 MAE&T Guide to Colleges & Universities research study.

The Student Veterans of America UT Chapter also will host an American flag retirement ceremony Thursday, Nov. 10, at 11 a.m. on the steps outside the Student Union, where they will share the history of the flag, the proper way to dispose of a flag that is no longer suitable for display, and preside over the retirement of several American flags.

Free parking for the Veterans Appreciation Breakfast and Resource Fair will be available in lots 3, 5 and 6 near Savage Arena. A shuttle also will transport visitors from the event to the Veterans Memorial Plaza.

This year’s event is sponsored by The University of Toledo, Lucas County Commissioners, Lucas County Veteran’s Service Commission, American Red Cross of Northwest Ohio, Columbia Gas and Fifth Third Bank.

The hub of Main Campus will be dedicated today in honor of Dr. Lancelot C.A. Thompson, a trailblazing University of Toledo professor and administrator who devoted his career to student success.

A dedication ceremony for the newly renamed Lancelot Thompson Student Union will be held at 2:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, inside the main entrance of the building near the Office of Multicultural Student Success. The event follows the November meeting of the UT Board of Trustees where they are slated to vote to officially rename the building in his honor.

Thompson

“As we look forward to continue to strengthen The University of Toledo, it’s important that we take these opportunities to honor our past,” UT President Sharon L. Gaber said. “Dr. Lance Thompson dedicated his life to this great university, and we benefit from the strong foundation he built.”

The president announced during a memorial service in September the University’s intent to rename the building in his honor, as well as the creation of the Dr. Lancelot Thompson Student Activities and Diversity Fund to support programming to benefit the student experience and advance the University’s diversity initiatives.

The dedication ceremony will include remarks from Gaber; Dr. Kaye M. Patten, senior vice president for student affairs; Dr. John Kirchhoff, Distinguished University Professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; and Dr. Willie McKether, vice president for diversity and inclusion. A portrait and plaque inside the main entrance honoring Thompson will be unveiled, and new signage on the outside of the Student Union will be on display, sharing the new building name with campus.

Thompson, who died Sept. 10 at the age of 91, was professor emeritus of chemistry who served 20 years as the University’s first vice president for student affairs.

He was a trailblazer at UT as the first African-American full-time faculty member at the University in 1958 and the first black faculty member to receive tenure. He went on to become the first African-American vice president.

Thompson was dedicated to students as a classroom teacher receiving one of the University’s first Outstanding Teacher Awards and as an administrator helping to organize UT’s annual Aspiring Minorities Youth Conference, which continues to this day.

To support student activities and diversity efforts through the Dr. Lancelot Thompson Student Activities and Diversity Fund, visit give2ut.utoledo.edu/lance.asp.

Click here to download photographs of Thompson.

An app to share African-American-themed comic books and a sensor-enabled fitness armband that allows runners to carry pepper spray or Tasers for personal defense are among the ideas from aspiring business moguls vying for up to $10,000 in cash and prizes in northwest Ohio’s largest entrepreneurial business pitch competition.

Four teams are on deck to pitch their ideas at Pitch & Pour 5.0, which is modeled after the “Shark Tank” TV business show and sponsored by The University of Toledo’s LaunchPad Incubation program.

The annual event is from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10 in the Nitschke Technology Commercialization Complex. Pitches begin at 6 p.m.

Teams have five minutes and five slides to pitch their business concepts to the region’s investors, venture capitalists, professors and business leaders. Judges determine the winner or winners.

“We are proud to be providing the opportunity for candidate companies and entrepreneurs to compete in November’s event here at the heart of our region’s startup community,” said Jessica Sattler, director of economic engagement and business development programs at UT. “We’re looking for high-tech, high-growth, technology-enabled, web-based enterprises that demonstrate innovation and business concepts with the potential to develop into successful companies.”

Investors, students and future entrepreneurs will learn about the companies, their potential and receive helpful insight from the judges.

“Although the prizes we award our competitors are great, gaining exposure to influencers who can spot successful ventures can often prove more valuable,” Sattler said.

The presenting startup teams at the fifth Pitch & Pour event will be:

• Sport Testing, a laser system paired with a data-collection infrastructure that provides predictive models to identify athletic talent, which could help college athletic recruiters across the country;

• Peep Game Comix, a proposed app that carries nearly 200 African-American-themed comic books, which will be introduced to libraries across the U.S. and in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa;

• Zid Zid, a web-based platform designed for children ages three to six, which helps parents expose them to world languages;

• And RunReady, a fitness armband that allows runners to carry personal defense tools without restricting mobility or range of motion.

This year’s judges are Bill McCreary, chief technology officer at UT; Stuart Schaefer, a technology entrepreneur, angel investor and National Science Foundation mentor; and Rita DeRaedt, product designer at Google and host of Technobabble on BBC.

Admission is free. Attendees need to pre-register online at pitchandpour.com.

Pitch & Pour competitors have the opportunity to be invited to join UT’s LaunchPad Incubation Program, which works to bolster innovation in northwest Ohio by providing access to capital, resources and expertise focused on enhancing community collaboration and communication for entrepreneurial development.

Any questions may be directed to the University Communications Office by calling 419.530.2410 or via email at meghan.cunningham@utoledo.edu.

Danzy Senna, the author of the bestselling novel, Caucasia, will give the annual Richard M. Summers Memorial Lecture at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, in Student Union Room 2592.

She will give a public reading, which will be followed by a reception when she will sign books.

Senna

Her first work, Caucasia, has been translated into 10 languages, and Senna won the Book of the Month Club Stephen Crane Award for First Fiction and the American Library Association’s Alex Award. Senna

She also has written the bestselling novel, Symptomatic (2004); a memoir, Where Did You Sleep Last Night: A Personal History (2009); and a collection of short fiction, You Are Free: Stories (2011).

“We chose Ms. Senna because her work deftly and fearlessly explores — with grace, humor and emotional honesty — the complex and often thorny issues of race, class and gender in the contemporary United States,” said Dr. Kimberly Mack, UT assistant professor of English. “Senna confronts the constructed nature of race while developing characters who are tasked with finding ways to live authentically within those structures. Her novel, Caucasia, is also widely taught in our department, with students responding enthusiastically to her work.”

Mack encouraged attendance to the free, public event for the chance to hear from an influential writer.

“I hope that members of the UT and larger Toledo communities are inspired by their encounter with an important contemporary American writer whose work engages salient topics of contemporary relevance,” Mack said.

The Richard M. Summers Memorial Lecture was established by Marie Summers to honor her son, a member of the UT Department of English from 1966 until his death in 1988. The lecture is designed to bring a distinguished literary scholar, critic or writer to the University.

“The Summers Memorial Lecture offers the UT and larger Toledo communities an exciting opportunity to experience significant creative writers and literary scholars in a vibrant intellectual environment. For students who are studying literature or creative writing, the Summers Lecture exposes them to writers whose works can inform their own,” Mack said.

For more information on the Summers Memorial Lecture, call the UT Department of English Language and Literature at 419.530.2318.