The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Toledo Public Schools Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion are holding a virtual roundtable titled “Navigating Social Injustices Amidst a Pandemic: Open Roundtable Discussion” from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 1 on WebEx.

Register for and access the free, public event on the College of Medicine and Life Sciences website.

“This is an opportunity for members of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences to engage with the community and show support for Toledo Public Schools, students and parents. This aligns with our mission to serve the needs of our community outside the walls of our institution,” said Dr. Kimberly Jenkins, associate dean of diversity and inclusion in the UToledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, and a moderator of the event.

“We aim to continue the dialogue surrounding social injustice and the protests related to recent police killings, as well as discuss meaningful ways to support our young people in coping with these crises. Dealing with the tragic events of this year in the midst of a pandemic has been especially traumatic. Through this event and upcoming collaborations, we hope to strengthen our support for Toledo-area youth and their families and assure them they won’t face these challenges alone.”

Panelists include:

• Bro. Washington Muhammad, co-founder of the Community Solidarity Response Network;
• Dr. Darren Gordon, UToledo M.D./Ph.D. candidate and former national speaker of the house for the Student National Medical Association; and
• Ashley Futrell, attorney and community advocate.

Moderators include Jenkins, Dr. Treva Jeffries, assistant transformational leader of equity, diversity and inclusion at Toledo Public Schools, and Dr. Hope Bland, administrator in the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Toledo Public Schools.

“The objective of this event is to provide support to our students and staff around the current social unrest while coping with the ongoing pandemic,” Jeffries said. “By including panelists from various fields, a wealth of knowledge will be gained in preparation for a successful transition into the new school year. I am confident that the panelists will provide valuable insight as to how participants can effectively work to eradicate racism in their own space.”

The UToledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences has a dedicated partnership with Toledo Public Schools, including pipeline programs that provide mentoring, bring students on campus, give them support and tools for success on college admissions and academic and professional development.

A new book by a disability history scholar and Helen Keller expert at The University of Toledo tells the story of a white female physician – for some time, the only female doctor in Madison, Wisc. – and how the affluent woman came to spend 20 years in a state insane asylum as a patient of one of her former male colleagues.

Dr. Kim Nielsen, UToledo professor of disability studies, history and women’s and gender studies, wrote the biography published by University of Illinois Press about Dr. Anna Ott, who died in 1893 after being determined legally incompetent and institutionalized. Through Ott’s story, Nielsen spotlights how power, society, sexism and ableism built structures and social systems that favored the nondisabled in 19^th century America.

“Money, Marriage, and Madness: The Life of Anna Ott” describes how the legal and medical cultures shaped one woman.

“Anna Ott had enjoyed status and financial success first as a physician’s wife and then as the only female doctor in Madison,” Nielsen said. “Throughout her first marriage, attempts to divorce her abusive second husband, and 20 years of institutionalization, Ott determinedly shaped her own life.”

Nielsen writes that historical and institutional structures, like Ott’s whiteness and laws that liberalized divorce and women’s ability to control their property, opened up uncommon possibilities for Ott. Other structures, from domestic violence in the home to rampant sexism and ableism outside of it, remained a part of even affluent women’s lives.

“I want readers to know that diagnoses have histories, and that they are not ahistorical,” Nielsen said. “Physicians, her husband and community leaders diagnosed Anna Ott as insane. This stigmatized and delegitimizing diagnosis reflected and reinforced the ideologies, assumptions, social structures and power dynamics of her time period. For folks invested in considering medical diagnoses all-knowing and ahistorical, this is difficult.”

While researching and writing the book, Nielsen was most surprised to discover the allegation that Ott robbed the local Wells Fargo bank.

Ms. Magazine included the book on its list of “June 2020 Reads for the Rest of Us.”

Dr. Kim Nielsen, UToledo professor of disability studies, history and women’s and gender studies

Nielsen is an editor and contributor to “The Oxford Handbook of Disability History” published by Oxford University Press in 2018. Nielson’s book, “A Disability History of the United States,” was published by Beacon Press in 2012.

Other books include “Beyond the Miracle Worker: The Remarkable Life of Anne Sullivan Macy and Her Extraordinary Friendship with Helen Keller” published by Beacon Press in 2009; “Helen

Keller: Selected Writings” published by New York University Press in 2005; “The Radical Lives of Helen Keller” published by New York University Press in 2004; and “Un-American Womanhood: Anti-Radicalism, Anti-Feminism, and the First Red Scare” published by Ohio State University Press in 2001.

As protests continue and calls for defunding police sound across the country, The University of Toledo is hosting its second campus conversation about the death of George Floyd.

The Dialogues on Diversity Virtual Townhall series continues at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 25 with “The Death of George Floyd: Where Do We Go From Here?” hosted jointly by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Africana Studies program.

The free, public event can be accessed on WebEx using the access code 160 482 0630. The meeting password is maP4hKYQM32. Join by phone at 415.655.0002.

“Now that Mr. Floyd has been laid to rest, the protests are still strong and will continue, but we know they too will eventually fade from public consumption with the next big news cycle, and the anticipation of the murder trial of the four officers in a few months, what’s next,” said Angela Siner, director of the Africana Studies program and moderator of the virtual townhall. “The year 2020 has been unprecedented with the COVID-19 pandemic, the murder of George Floyd and subsequent civil protests. These issues must be addressed individually and collectively for us and the nation to heal and move forward.”

Participants also include:

• Dr. Shirley Green, UToledo adjunct professor of history and director of the Toledo Police Museum;
• Dr. Shingi Mavima, UToledo assistant professor of history;
• Dr. Michael Stauch, UToledo assistant professor of history;
• Dr. Dale Snauwaert, UToledo professor of social and philosophical foundations of education and peace studies, and co-coordinator of the peace studies minor in the Judith Herb College of Education; and
• Dr. Willie McKether, vice president for diversity and inclusion.

The University of Toledo is a community that celebrates and respects people of all backgrounds and experiences. As an institution, we remain committed to building an inclusive environment free of racism, sexism, bigotry and other negative influences.

Dr. Gregory Postel to Serve as Interim President of The University of Toledo

Toledo, Ohio ­– The University of Toledo Board of Trustees has announced the appointment by unanimous vote of Dr. Gregory Postel as the Special Advisor to the Board of Trustees, effective June 17, 2020. Postel will then become the Interim President upon President Sharon L. Gaber’s departure from the University.

Postel is the former Interim President of the University of Louisville (UofL), as well as its former Executive Vice President for Health Affairs. He has more than 25 years of leadership experience with university operations, academic medical centers and clinical research, as well as university governance, teaching and research.

Postel

“Our priority was to hire an interim president with proven leadership ability, demonstrated financial acumen, and experience in all facets of university operations, including medical education and clinical operations, to lead our University after Dr. Gaber’s departure,” UToledo Board of Trustees Chair Mary Ellen Pisanelli said. “The wealth of experience Dr. Postel brings to the University will be invaluable as we continue to build our national reputation and grow our academic mission of service while addressing the immediate and ongoing fiscal challenges that universities and hospitals across the nation are confronting.”

“As a Board we felt it was critical to find a leader who had the experience necessary to lead the entire University of Toledo enterprise, including our academic institution and our hospital. Dr. Postel checks all the boxes,” said UToledo Board of Trustees Vice Chair Al Baker, who previously served on the Board of Trustees of the former Medical College of Ohio and who the Board elected today as Chair for the 2020-21 academic year that begins July 1. “Dr. Postel has a strong track record of collaboration while providing strong, decisive leadership after careful, intensive listening.”

In addition to serving as Interim President of UofL and its Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, Postel had an accomplished career as an academic interventional neuroradiologist, serving 18 years as Chair of the Department of Radiology at the UofL School of Medicine and as Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs and Chairman of the Board of the University Medical Center in Louisville. He was the founding Chairman of the Board and later the CEO of the University of Louisville Physicians.

During his time in leadership at UofL, Postel oversaw the design and implementation of two academic affiliations, including an eight-year, $33 million per year pediatric affiliation with Norton Healthcare and a $23 million per year adult affiliation agreement with KentuckyOne Health. He also led the planning and construction of the $80 million Pediatrics Medical Office Building; the management and board transition at the University of Louisville Hospital; the complete restructuring and implementation of the health sciences center budget and the creation of two consecutive balanced budgets in the context of flat tuition and with no program closures; and the reorganization of the athletics department.

“In an era of declining resources coupled with demands for greater transparency and collaboration, The University of Toledo’s success will depend on leadership that embraces clear communication, strategic planning and the creation of partnerships based on trust,” Postel said. “I know that The University of Toledo has a vital mission and a bright future, and I am honored to have this opportunity to help guide it during this period of transition.”

A graduate of the College of Wooster and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Postel completed a residency in radiology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and a fellowship in neuroradiology at the Mayo Clinic Foundation.

Postel will succeed President Gaber, who has announced her resignation to become the fifth chancellor at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. For as long as Dr. Gaber remains President, Postel will serve only in the capacity of an advisor with the powers and authority of the President retained by Dr. Gaber until the conclusion of her service. Only at that time will Postel become Interim President of the University.

The University plans to launch a national search for its 18th President in the coming months.

Gamers, get ready.

The University of Toledo is one of the founding members of the Esports Collegiate Conference, which begins gaming competitions in the fall semester.

UToledo students will go through tryouts to join the varsity esports team, which will practice several times a week and compete against other universities in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).

The MAC announced June 10 the new Esports Conference that will feature fall and spring seasons with teams from UToledo, University of Akron, Ball State University, Bowling Green State University, University at Buffalo, Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Kent State University, Miami University, Northern Illinois University, Ohio University and Western Michigan University.

“We are excited to be part of a historic opportunity for our students that facilitates high-quality gaming competition against MAC universities,” Tony North Jr., assistant director of programs and leadership development in the UToledo Office of Recreational Services, said. “We’re looking for high-character individuals with skills necessary to compete at a high level for esports, such as good hand eye coordination, fast reaction time, good reflexes, sound decision-making skills and good communication.”

The Esports Collegiate Conference will provide structure, scheduling and championship opportunities for its membership, with competition beginning in the 2020-21 academic year. The conference is an independent entity and will operate separately from the MAC.

An Esports Collegiate Champion will be crowned in each game title with the champion earning an automatic bid to the national postseason tournament.

Titles being considered for fall 2020 are Rocket League, Fortnite, Super Smash Brothers, Madden or FIFA. Spring season competition will be in Overwatch and League of Legends.

“The creation of Esports Collegiate represents the foresight of our presidents to establish a stand-alone competitive framework for collegiate esports competitors and enthusiasts,” MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher said.

The number of players on a team depends on a game title.

“Each game title is essentially a different sport that requires a different roster size,” North said. “In the spring, League of Legends will require a minimum of five players, as well as two or three subs, and Overwatch requires a minimum of six players, as well as two or three subs.”

Students will have the opportunity to compete from their residence hall, home or a team location on campus.

“The nice things about esports is that you don’t have to be in a specific location to compete,” North said. “Students will have the ability to compete from wherever they are. However, we’re working to finalize a temporary esports location on campus to host practices and competitions.”

Information and criteria for UToledo tryouts will be announced when finalized.

Visit esports-collegiate.com for more information about the new conference.

Toledo, Ohio – The University of Toledo’s Board of Trustees has announced the finalists it is considering for the position of interim president. During the June 8 Special Meeting, the Board unanimously voted to interview three candidates for the interim leadership appointment.

The Board contracted with AGB Search which specializes in executive leadership searches exclusively for higher education. The firm’s managing principal, and former president of Ohio University and UToledo alumnus, Dr. Roderick McDavis, led the search bringing forward potential candidates for the Board’s review.

“I believe I speak on behalf of the entire Board when I say that we are extremely pleased with the caliber of candidates AGB has brought forward for consideration,” UToledo Board of Trustees Chair Mary Ellen Pisanelli said. “These candidates’ interest in the leadership position is a testament to the national reputation of our outstanding faculty and The University of Toledo.”

Following a brief discussion about the priorities for a transitional leader, the Board voted to interview three candidates:

• Dr. Christopher Colenda – President emeritus at West Virginia University (WVU) Health System and former chancellor for health sciences at WVU. During his tenure, the WVU Health System grew to include eight owned or affiliated hospitals throughout the state of West Virginia. Among his many academic leadership appointments, Colenda also served as vice president for clinical affairs and dean of the College of Medicine at Texas A&M University. He holds an M.D. from the Medical College of Virginia of Virginia Commonwealth University, a M.P.H. from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Wittenberg University. He completed residencies in pathology at Case Western University, behavioral medicine and psychiatry at University of Virginia and general preventive medicine at Johns Hopkins University. He was also the chief resident in the Department of Psychiatry and completed a fellowship in public mental health, both at Emory University.
• Dr. Gregory Postel – Former interim president and former executive vice president for health affairs at the University of Louisville (UofL) and current senior client partner representing healthcare services and higher education at Korn Ferry, an organizational consulting firm. Postel has extensive experience with academic medical center and university operations. He also served as CEO of UofL Physicians. As interim president he led the successful removal of UofL’s accreditation probation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC) and restructured the UofL athletics department. He led the UofL’s budget reset necessitated by a $50 million shortfall. Among his many administrative accomplishments, Postel designed and implemented two academic affiliations including an eight-year, $33 million per year pediatric affiliation with Norton Healthcare and a $23 million a year adult affiliation agreement with KentuckyOne Health. A graduate of the College of Wooster with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and an M.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, he completed a residency in radiology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and a fellowship in neuroradiology at the Mayo Clinic Foundation.
• Dr. Chuck Staben – The former president and current professor of biology at the University of Idaho (U of I). Under his leadership U of I grew research more than 25%, increased student retention and graduation and doubled fundraising exceeding $50 million annually. His administrative experience also includes provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of South Dakota and vice president for research at the University of Kentucky. He earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of California, Berkeley and his undergraduate degree in biochemistry at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. He also completed post-doc training at Stanford University and Chiron Research Laboratories.

The University is expected to launch a national search for the next president in the fall.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UToledo Board of Trustees will conduct its meetings remotely.

Monday, June 8, 2020

4 p.m. Special Board of Trustees Meeting

Join via WebEx:

Meeting number (access code): 160 379 7388

Meeting password: zZDU2ksv6p3

Join via Phone:

+1-415-655-0002

Meeting number (access code): 160 379 7388

The Board of Trustees will immediately enter Executive Session upon convening the meeting to discuss the employment and compensation of a public employee.

Any questions may be directed to the Office of University Marketing and Communications by calling 312.805.3001 or via email to christine.billau@utoledo.edu.

The University of Toledo is adjusting its fall semester calendar as an additional measure to protect the campus community during this COVID-19 pandemic.

UToledo will begin the fall 2020 semester on Monday, Aug. 17 — one week before the planned first day of class — and is making additional adjustments to the fall academic calendar so that students will end the on-campus portion of their studies by the Thanksgiving holiday.

In adjusting the semester, UToledo also is eliminating fall break, which was planned for Oct. 22 and 23. All final exams will be completed remotely the week of Nov. 30 – Dec. 4. These changes to the academic calendar will not impact the number of weeks in the semester as students will still be on campus for the regularly scheduled 15 weeks.

“Adjusting the fall semester in this way provides our students a great on-campus learning experience while also reducing the potential risk of exposure with students, faculty and staff traveling during the Thanksgiving holiday. We want to avoid, as much as possible, the potential for a member of our campus community to contract and spread the virus when returning to campus,” said Dr. Karen Bjorkman, provost and executive vice president of academic affairs.

With the change in the academic calendar, students will have the opportunity to move-in to the residence halls beginning Aug. 2 and continuing through Aug. 15. More information on the move-in process and scheduling will be sent to residential students in the coming weeks. Students graduating in December will be able to move out of the residence halls after their final examination(s).

“There are a number of uncertainties about COVID-19, but our public health and infectious disease experts have been working closely with local and state health officials to implement proactive strategies to mitigate risk while ensuring our students’ academic success,” said Dr. Amy Thompson, UToledo vice provost and public health scholar. “In the event that a ‘second wave’ of this virus in late fall becomes a reality, this strategy is one of many preventative measures UToledo can take now to protect our students and our campus community.”

UToledo continues to finalize its Rocket Restart plan to put measures in place to promote a safe return to on-campus operations. Additional details will be released in early July.

The University of Toledo is hosting a campus conversation about the death of George Floyd at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 4.

The free, public event titled “Dialogues on Diversity Virtual Townhall” can be accessed on WebEx using the access code 160 282 6992. The meeting password is HSfu4PQF6D3. Join by phone at 415.655.0002.

Participants include:

• UToledo Police Chief Jeff Newton;
• Benjamin Davis, UToledo law professor;
• Dr. Monita Mungo, UToledo assistant professor of sociology;
• Dr. La Tasha Sullivan, director of the University Counseling Center;
• Nyah Kidd, president of the Black Student Union;
• Darren Gordon, former president of the UToledo chapter of the Student National Medical Association;
• Giselle Zelaya, president of the Latino Student Union;
• Nick Thompson, president of Student Government;
• Anjali Phadke, vice president of Student Government; and
• Asher Sovereign with the Sexuality and Gender Alliance.

“The events of the past week have brought to light the critical role higher education can and must play in facilitating open and honest discussions that empower us as a community and a nation to translate our ideals into actionable change,” Dr. Willie McKether, vice president for diversity and inclusion, said.

The University of Toledo is a community that celebrates and respects people of all backgrounds and experiences. As an institution, we remain committed to building an inclusive environment free of racism, sexism, bigotry and other negative influences.