The University of Toledo College of Law is one of the best law schools in the country for women in a prestigious ranking that focuses on student experience and success.

Princeton Review once again selected the UToledo College of Law in its list of the top 164 law schools titled “Best Law Schools 2021.” The college moved up one spot to No. 4 on the national list of the top 10 law schools with the “Greatest Resources for Women.”

Princeton Review identified which law schools offer the greatest resources for women based on the percentage of the student body who identify as women, as well as on student answers to a survey question on whether all students are afforded equal treatment by students and faculty regardless of their gender.

“Women students really excel at Toledo Law, in part because there is safety and comfort in numbers, and women students make up more than 58% of our student body,” said Nicole Buonocore Porter, UToledo law professor, the faculty advisor to the law school’s Women’s Law Student Association and a past winner of UToledo’s Outstanding University Woman Award. “But more importantly, Toledo Law is a great place for women students because of the faculty. All of our faculty members are talented and committed classroom teachers. But our women faculty members are also very compassionate educators. They will go to great lengths to make sure our students feel supported and are getting the most out of their legal education.”

The Best Law Schools rankings are based on data from the company’s surveys of 14,000 students and administrators at 164 law schools.

The Princeton Review’s 80-question student survey asked law school students about their school’s academics, student body and campus life. It also included questions for the respondents about themselves and their career plans. The student surveys were conducted during the 2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18 academic years.

The company also selected schools based on an analysis of institutional data collected from surveys of law school administrators during the 2019-20 academic year. The institutional survey covered topics from academic offerings and admission requirements to data about currently enrolled students as well as graduates’ employment.

“We report law school ranking lists in 14 categories—instead of a mega-list, solely based on academics—for one reason: to help applicants identify the law school best for them,” said Rob Franek, editor-in-chief of the Princeton Review. “Our lists name schools that are stand-outs on matters law school applicants have told us are important to them—from career prospects to campus culture distinctions.”

The Princeton Review is a leading tutoring, test prep and college admission services company. Every year, the company helps millions of college- and graduate school-bound students achieve their education and career goals through online and in-person courses delivered by a network of more than 4,000 teachers and tutors, online resources and more than 150 print and digital books published by Penguin Random House.

Faculty from The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences will participate in a virtual town hall discussion, “UToledo Experts Address COVID-19: Updates and Vaccine Information,” from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17, via Webex.

The event hosted by the University of Toledo Foundation is free and open to the public, though registration is required.

Presenters include:

• Saurabh Chattopadhyay, assistant professor of medical microbiology and immunology;

• Joan Duggan, infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine;

• Jennifer Hanrahan, infectious disease specialist and associate professor of medicine;

• Jason F. Huntley, associate professor of medical microbiology and immunology; and

• R. Travis Taylor, assistant professor of medical microbiology and immunology.

Dr. Christopher Cooper, dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences and executive vice president for clinical affairs, will lead the discussion.

The University of Toledo is naming its College of Business and Innovation for one of the greatest mutual fund investors in modern history who got his start on the UToledo campus and generously gave back to his alma mater.

The newly named John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation honors John Neff and his family for their commitment to enhancing the educational experience and competitive advantage for UToledo students.

“The generosity of Mr. Neff and his family has made a tremendous impact on our College of Business and Innovation by supporting some of our most promising students and attracting top faculty experts to our campus to train the investors of the future,” said UToledo Interim President Gregory Postel. “We are proud to name the college in his honor and look forward to the impact that connecting his legacy more closely to our business programs will have on generations to come.”

The College of Business and Innovation is named for John and Lillian Neff in honor of their commitment to enhancing the educational experience and competitive advantage for UToledo students.

Neff, who died June 4, 2019, at the age of 87, received his bachelor’s degree in industrial marketing in 1955 from UToledo, where he also met his wife Lillian. She preceded him in death in 2017.

“It’s with tremendous pride that we partner with The University of Toledo in celebrating the naming of the John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation,” said Lisa Neff-Ryave, their daughter. “My Dad often spoke of his genuine love for The University of Toledo and the humble appreciation he held for the education he received while there. It was that base in finance that propelled him forward in his illustrious career with Vanguard’s Windsor.”

Neff had gone to Wall Street immediately after graduating from UToledo, but didn’t get the interest he had hoped for. He instead started his career at National City Bank in Cleveland and later was offered a position in Philadelphia as manager of the Wellington Management Co.’s Windsor mutual fund, where he earned a reputation for outperforming the stock market for the next 30 years.

Neff’s approach was looking for stocks that in his words were “overlooked, misunderstood, forgotten, out of favor” and he favored steady performers and aimed to pay a low multiple of annual earnings, as described in the obituary article published in the Wall Street Journal.

The naming of the College of Business and Innovation recognizes the alumnus’ success, as well as his generosity. The $18.7 million gift to UToledo encompasses John and Lillian Neff’s lifetime and estate giving, as well as a gift from their children, Lisa and Stephen, who wanted to participate in honoring their parents in such a meaningful way.

His previous donations to the College of Business and Innovation established the Neff Trading Room equipped with high-tech Bloomberg terminals, which students use to access real-time information from the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ and Chicago Board of Trade. The Neff family also established an endowed chair in the college and they have funded student scholarships and faculty teaching and research awards. The Department of Finance had already been named in Neff’s honor.

Neff also personally shared his experience and expertise with students, mentoring them on investment strategies and methodology. He was instrumental in the design of the Student Managed Portfolio course, in which UToledo students manage an account initially funded with $1 million from The University of Toledo Foundation. The course provides students hands-on money management experience to learn the business and science of investing.

“He relished those experiences, they were precious to him,” Neff-Ryave said. “UToledo was definitely his extended family and he was forever proud to be a Rocket. It is with tremendous pride that my brother Stephen and I join this effort in supporting our parent’s legacy by naming the Neff College of Business and Innovation.”

The UToledo Board of Trustees approved the naming of the college in Neff’s honor at its Dec. 14 meeting. A celebration event will be planned for a future date.

“We are proud to call this Wall Street giant a graduate of our University and our college and we are so appreciative of his generosity that has already impacted generations of students and will continue to elevate the educational experiences of business students for years to come,” said Dr. Anne Balazs, dean of the College of Business and Innovation.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
Monday, Dec. 14, 2020
Join via WebEx:
Meeting number (access code): 180 863 3792
Meeting password: BOTDEC2020

Join via Phone:
+1-415-655-0002
Meeting number (access code): 180 863 3792

9 a.m. Clinical Affairs Committee Meeting
9:15 a.m. Academic and Student Affairs Committee Meeting
9:30 a.m. Finance and Audit Committee Meeting
9:45 a.m. Trusteeship and Governance Committee Meeting
10 a.m. Board of Trustees Meeting

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

The University of Toledo Medical Center is offering an innovative new outpatient treatment for prostate cancer that uses ultrasound waves to precisely target and destroy cancerous areas while leaving nearby healthy tissue untouched.

Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer in men, affecting roughly one out of nine American men during their lifetimes.

Because prostate cancer is often slow-growing, many patients diagnosed with localized cancer take a wait-and-see approach in which the cancer is closely monitored but not immediately treated.

Patients who do elect treatment have traditionally had two options — radiation therapy or surgical removal of the prostate. Those aggressive treatments are effective but often bring serious side effects, including incontinence and sexual dysfunction.

By focusing ultrasound waves on areas as small as a grain of rice, physicians at UTMC can now destroy tumors while minimizing the potential for harming important structures such as nerves responsible for erections, the urinary sphincter, glands responsible for producing semen and non-cancerous prostate tissue.

Dr. Puneet Sindhwani

“In very few cancers do we take out the whole organ rather than removing the cancer itself,” said Dr. Puneet Sindhwani, a board-certified urologist at UTMC and chair and Kenneth Kropp Endowed Professor of Urology at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences. “Combining more precise biopsy techniques with high-intensity focused ultrasound provides us an opportunity to treat only the area where we found the cancer and spare the rest of the prostate, reducing the risk of side effects.”

High-intensity focused ultrasound, commonly known as HIFU, has been available in Europe for nearly two decades but is relatively new in the United States.

UTMC is the first and only medical facility in the Toledo region using the state-of-the-art Sonablate device to treat prostate cancer.

“Unlike radical surgery of the prostate where patients may need to be admitted to the hospital, or radiation treatment which requires repeated visits for treatment, another advantage of HIFU is that it can be done in an outpatient setting in one visit,” Sindhwani said. “It is very important in the face of COVID-19 that we minimize patient exposure and also save important care resources for patients who need admission with life-threatening conditions.”

While the technology is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for destruction of prostate tissue, approval specifically for treating prostate cancer is pending U.S. trials. At this time, Medicare covers only part of the treatment and most private insurance providers don’t cover the treatment expenses. Individuals should check with their insurance provider.

To help make the treatment available in Toledo, the University received a generous grant for urologic innovation from Dr. Ashok Kar, a California-based urologist who completed his surgery and urology training at the former Medical College of Ohio.

Valerie Jarrett, former senior advisor to the Obama administration, and Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin, will speak at The University of Toledo’s 37^th annual Conference for Aspiring Minority Youth.

This year Toledo Excel, a longtime scholarship incentive program at UToledo, partnered with Owens Corning to offer the free event on Saturday, Jan. 30, for seventh- and eighth-graders, high school students and parents. The event is virtual because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Owens Corning was one of the original corporate supporters for Toledo Excel when we were founded 32 years ago. I could not be happier about us renewing our relationship in 2020,” said David Young, director of Toledo Excel and Special Projects.

“Their generous gift allows us to take an already successful conference to the next level. The quality of speakers and programming we can now offer students and the Toledo community is extremely exciting. We would be excited to have one of them and are greatly blessed to have both.”

Owens Corning donated $50,000 to support the conference.

“Owens Corning is fully committed to joining with our other community stakeholders to accelerate Toledo’s journey to be an inclusive, thriving community of excellence that achieves equity and justice for everyone,” said Leah Maguire, vice president of inclusion and diversity at Owens Corning.

“One of the critical paths on that journey will always be education, investing in our young people and supporting the goals of vital organizations like Toledo Excel.”

Established in 1988, Toledo Excel helps underrepresented students, including African, Asian, Hispanic and Native Americans, achieve success in college. Through summer institutes, academic retreat weekends, campus visits and guidance through the admission process, students increase their self-esteem, cultural awareness and civic involvement.

This year’s speakers have connections to two through lines of 2020: politics and race.

Valerie Jarrett

Jarrett is a senior distinguished fellow at the University of Chicago Law School and a senior advisor to the Obama Foundation. She serves as board chair of When We All Vote and co-chair of The United State of Women. Her New York Times bestselling memoir, “Finding My Voice: When the Perfect Plan Crumbles, the Adventure Begins,” was published last year.

Jarrett served as the chief executive officer of The Habitat Company, chairman and chief executive officer of the Chicago Stock Exchange, chairman of the Chicago Transit Board, deputy chief of staff for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, and practiced corporate, real estate and finance law for 10 years.

“Politics is very much on the mind of this nation with 2020 seeing such hotly contested races,” Young said. “Ms. Jarrett, with her wealth of experience as senior advisor to President Obama for eight years, is a perfect voice in this climate. She also has a passion for strengthening communities.”

Sybrina Fulton

Fulton has dedicated her life to transforming family tragedy into social change since her 17-year old-son Trayvon Martin was shot by George Zimmerman in 2012. Her book co-authored with Tracy Martin, “Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin,” shares the story of her son’s life and the rise of a movement that awoke a nation’s conscience.

Fulton worked for the Miami-Dade County Housing Development Agency for more than 25 years. A Miami native, Fulton graduated from Florida Memorial University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English.

“The tragedy Sybrina Fulton faced with the murder of her son Trayvon Martin is unfortunately the reality mothers in our community have faced at an alarming rate,” Young said. “Many of the students who will be in attendance have lost brothers or sisters, cousins, friends and classmates. Ms. Fulton can speak to that pain and, of course, the questions about race and its role in her son’s death and the aftermath.”

Details on how to register for the free, public conference will be released next month.

Author Laila Lalami, whose new book “Conditional Citizens” traces her path to American citizenship as an Arab Muslim immigrant, will present The University of Toledo’s 20th Annual Maryse and Ramzy Mikhail Memorial Lecture on Tuesday, Dec. 8.

Lalami’s discussion will focus on what it means to belong to a country, with the virtual event scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Participants will receive details on how to join the lecture after they register at the event’s website.

Author Laila Lalami

“As a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, National Book Award for Fiction and the Kirkus Prize, Laila Lalami has proven to be a leading Arab American voice in literature today,” said Tess Waggoner, granddaughter of Maryse and Ramzy Mikhail.

“This lecture series was established 20 years ago by my immigrant Egyptian American grandparents, who were proud to facilitate a space to ask tough questions in the pursuit of knowledge and mutual understanding. We are delighted to be able to continue this tradition virtually with Laila Lalami, the UToledo community and the broader public this year.”

Lalami, who was born in Morocco and came to the United States for graduate school, is the author of four novels, including “The Moor’s Account,” which won the American Book Award, the Arab-American Book Award and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction.

Her novel “The Other Americans” was a national bestseller and a finalist for the Kirkus Prize and the National Book Award in Fiction. And her essays and criticism have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, The Nation, Harper’s, the Guardian and the New York Times.

She also has received fellowships from the British Council, the Fulbright Program and the Guggenheim Foundation.

Lalami lives in Los Angeles and teaches creative writing at the University of California, Riverside.

The free, public lecture has been a continuous event at The University of Toledo since 2001 and is sponsored by the College of Arts and Letters and the Mikhail Endowment Fund.

The Mikhail Lecture Series is sponsored through the Mikhail Endowment Fund, which was originally established through a donation from the Mikhail family to honor the work and contributions of Maryse Mikhail and her involvement in educational, philanthropic and interfaith organizations.

The fund supports an annual lecture dealing with Arab culture, history, politics, economics and other aspects of life in the Middle East, including issues of peace and justice.

More information is available on the event website.

Those who wish to make a tax-deductible contribution to the fund can go to the UToledo Foundation website.