A chemical ecologist passionate about engaging students in experiential learning will join The University of Toledo to lead the Jesup Scott Honors College.

Dr. Heidi Appel comes to UT from the University of Missouri where she served as senior associate director of the Honors College. Her first day will be Monday, Aug. 15.

“Dr. Appel is an advocate for the role of a strong honors college at a research university that engages students in critical thinking and creates interdisciplinary relationships across the institution,” said Dr. Andrew Hsu, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Her decade of experience with honors colleges along with her enthusiasm for research and active, hands-on learning as part of the student educational experience matches our goals for the Jesup Scott Honors College and The University of Toledo.”

Appel

Hsu thanked Kelly Moore, who has served as interim dean of the college since August, for his leadership during the past year.

Appel joined the University of Missouri in 2007 as a senior research scientist and member of the graduate faculty and also served as associate director of the Honors College. Prior to that, she was a member of the faculty at Pennsylvania State University, which she joined in 2000.

“An honors college has a special role on campus. It’s a place where students can develop their intellectual capacities, learn to think broadly, creatively, and critically, and have intense discussions,” Appel said. “The Jesup Scott Honors College’s emphasis on experiential learning and undergraduate research, inclusive approach to admissions, and its talented faculty and staff make it a standout program. I look forward to working with the honors students, faculty and staff, my colleagues in other colleges and with the broader Toledo community to build upon the strong program.”

Appel, who grew up in the metro Detroit area, has long been interested in the outdoors. Midway through her undergraduate studies of ancient history and music she decided to make science her career. Since then she has focused her research on the intersection of chemistry and ecology to explain ecological patterns and broaden our understanding about the relationship between plants and insects.

Appel is an accomplished researcher who has received more than $2.5 million in external research funding and authored more than 45 publications. She made national headlines in 2014 with her research that showed plants can “hear,” meaning that they can identify vibrations caused by a caterpillar chewing and respond with increased chemical defense. The experience reinforced her interest in being sure that students not only get involved in research, but that they also have the opportunity to present it to a broader audience.

“Everyone has a responsibility to be able to communicate their interests and ideas effectively with other people. In higher education, we have a special need for that training for our students. Even if we’re working on a very esoteric topic, it is important to explain the basics of that to other people,” she said.

Among Appel’s goals for the Jesup Scott Honors College are to align the curriculum with student needs, increase interdisciplinary course offerings, get honors students actively engaged with campus as mentors and tutors, and deepen relationships with other colleges across campus.

“I‘m excited to join The University of Toledo where there is so much support for the role of honors education in the mission of the University,” she said.

Appel has a bachelor’s degree in general studies from Oakland University in Rochester, Mich., and a master’s degree in biology and PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Michigan.

The University of Toledo has been selected to join a prestigious association that includes many of the top astronomy programs in the nation.

In recognition of the astronomy and astrophysics program’s strengths in research, education and outreach, UT was admitted as the 41st member of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, which goes by the acronym AURA.

AURA operates world-class astronomical observatories, including the National Science Foundation’s Gemini Observatory, Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, National Optical Astronomy Observatory and National Solar Observatory, as well as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Space Telescope Science Institute. 

The association’s role is to establish, nurture and promote public observatories and facilities that advance innovative astronomical research.

“We are impressed with your strong astronomy program and with your commitment to the future,” AURA President Matt Mountain wrote in his welcome letter to the University. “It is our mission to advance astronomy and related sciences, to articulate policy and respond to the priorities of the astronomical community, and to enhance the public understanding of science. We do this by developing and operating national and international centers that enable merit-based research by members of the astronomical community. I believe and trust that The University of Toledo and AURA have many goals and objectives in common.”

“It was very exciting to learn that our application was accepted and we were elected to become a member,” said Dr. Karen Bjorkman, dean of the UT College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Distinguished University Professor of Astronomy and Helen Luedtke Brooks Endowed Professor of Astronomy. “If you look at the list of members of AURA, it really is a who’s who of some of the best astronomy programs in the country, and for us to be added to that list is a recognition of the level we have been striving to reach.”

AURA was founded in 1957 and has had a strong role in providing input and guidance on matters of astronomy policy.

“It is one of the most important voices for professional astronomers in the United States to have input on decisions made on astronomy in this country,” said Bjorkman, who will serve as UT’s member representative to AURA.

In addition to the now 41 U.S. institutional members, AURA also receives input from four international affiliates in Chile, Japan and Australia. Having a voice at the table on the future of astronomy is key, as are the opportunities for UT faculty and students who will benefit from interactions with colleagues at AURA member universities, Bjorkman said.

UT qualified for membership because of its robust research efforts that include undergraduate and graduate students who experience hands-on training. That research also gets communicated to the community through strong outreach programs via the Ritter Planetarium and Brooks Observatory, Bjorkman said.

“We have a program that has intentionally intertwined education, research and outreach,” she said. “The research we do gets communicated back to community and to the students and to the public. That is an important responsibility of scientists.”

The astronomy and astrophysics programs are housed within UT’s Department of Physics and Astronomy. Some examples of the group’s many competitive achievements include two researchers who were among the first to access the European Space Agency’s Herschel far-infrared space-based telescope to study the creation of stars and life cycles of galaxies. Dr. Tom Megeath, UT professor of astronomy, led the Herschel Orion Protostar Survey (HOPS), and Dr. J.D. Smith, associate professor of astronomy, led a team in the Key Insights on Nearby Galaxies: A Far Infrared Survey with Herschel (KINGFISH).

During the past eight years, astronomy researchers at UT have received more than $7.6 million in external funding, primarily from the National Science Foundation and NASA, with a number of discoveries earning national attention.

In 2012, UT entered into a 10-year science partnership with the Lowell Observatory for guaranteed access to the 4.3-meter Discovery Channel Telescope, which provides additional opportunities for research and allows students to become involved in conducting observations at a major facility.

“Astronomy is a science that really gets people excited,” Bjorkman said. “Even if people don’t become astronomers, they get excited about science at young ages and that helps with curiosity and scientific literacy that is important in whatever they do.”

Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Driscoll Alumni Center, Board Room
5:30 p.m. Board of Trustees Special Meeting

The Trustees will enter Executive Session shortly after convening the meeting
to discuss a trade secret under the Ohio Uniform Trade Secret Act
contained in Ohio Revised Code Section 1333.61.

Monday, June 20, 2016
Driscoll Alumni Center, Schmakel Room
10:00 a.m. Clinical Affairs Committee Meeting*
1:00 p.m. Finance and Audit Committee Meeting
1:15 p.m. Board of Trustees Meeting

Thursday, June 23, 2016
Radisson Hotel, 3100 Restaurant
8:00 a.m. Board of Trustees Social Breakfast

Any questions may be directed to the University Communications Office by calling (419) 530-2410 or via email at meghan.cunningham@utoledo.edu.

* Note updated time for Clinical Affairs Committee Meeting at 10 a.m. rather than 10:30 a.m.

The University of Toledo will mark the 10-year anniversary of the merger of UT and the Medical University of Ohio with a celebration Thursday, June 16.

The event will take place from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Health Education Building Room 100 on Health Science Campus and will recognize the July 1, 2006, date when the two institutions became one and the decade since that has increased interprofessional education and research opportunities for UT students and faculty.

UT President Sharon L. Gaber and Dr. Christopher Cooper, executive vice president of clinical affairs and dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, will speak at the celebration. Chuck Lehnert, UT vice president of corporate relations, will serve as the emcee for the event that also will feature a video of UT and elected leaders reflecting on the merger.

The Medical College of Ohio was established in 1964 as the 100th medical school in the United States and welcomed its first class of students in 1969. The college grew to include schools of medicine, nursing, allied health, and a graduate school of biomedical sciences, and in 2005 became the Medical University of Ohio to reflect that.

One year later, the college merged with UT, which has served the Toledo community since it was established in 1872. UT has been a member of the state university system since 1967.

Separate for 40 years yet less than four miles apart, UT and MUO have accomplished great things during the past decade as a merged institution that is one of just 27 universities in the nation with its comprehensive breadth of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs.

Media Coverage
The Blade (June 13, 2016)

A 45-year tradition of fun recreational and educational opportunities for Toledo area youth will continue June 6-24 when The University of Toledo hosts the 2016 National Youth Sports Program.

More than 150 income-eligible Toledoans between the ages of 9 and 16 will spend weekdays from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the UT Main Campus and other area locations participating in activities such as basketball, track and swimming throughout the free three-week program.

Along with the sports programs, the students will learn about nutrition, enhancing their self-image, the value of communication, healthy behaviors, and how to resist peer pressure.

“This program serves as a model for fair play and contributes to the development of life skills that are necessary for success in a competitive society,” said Dr. Ruthie Kucharewski, UT professor and director of the Recreation Therapy Program. “With generous donations from community partners, our program is able to provide its participants with a free summer program that includes a medical exam, transportation, daily sports instruction and educational sessions.”

UT President Sharon L. Gaber will welcome the students to the UT campus and National Youth Sports Program Monday, June 13, at 11 a.m. in the Student Union.

Other activities during the program include the Blue and Gold Field Games Friday, June 10, a trip to the Indian Creek Petting Zoo Wednesday, June 15, and a “Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs” field trip Monday, June 20.

For a detailed daily schedule of activities, click here.

Dr. Willie McKether, who had been serving in a temporary role this spring as special assistant to the president for diversity, has been name vice president for diversity and inclusion, UT President Sharon L. Gaber announced today, pending approval by the UT Board of Trustees. McKether also will hold a vice provost appointment.

Since her arrival at The University of Toledo last July, Gaber has been working to promote diversity throughout the culture of the University.

“The strengthening of a campus culture that is inclusive, values diversity and uniqueness, and celebrates that we can learn from our differences is a responsibility we all share,” Gaber said. “Dr. McKether’s job is to help coordinate our efforts, to push us forward, and to provide the expertise and guidance that ensures we are moving toward a better future. He has the right skill set, passion and drive to do just that.”

McKether

McKether’s professional background and training in cultural anthropology and multicultural retention efforts over the past 10 years have helped provide a world view that will aid him in this new role, Gaber said.

“This role is about creating an environment where all members of the UT community, and all those who visit our campus, feel like they belong,” McKether said. “I look forward to helping advance some of the great work already underway to increase our recruitment and retention of minority students, faculty and staff.”

Much of the work McKether will take on has been outlined in the draft strategic diversity plan he led the coordination of this spring as special assistant to the president for diversity. Trustees will consider the plan in the months ahead.

“The road map is nearly there and it was created thanks to input from hundreds of members of the UT and Toledo communities,” said McKether, who will start July 1 and report to Gaber. “I can’t wait to get started.”

McKether said he’s also planning to increase UT’s outreach to advocacy groups in the community and ensure there is an ongoing dialogue.

In addition to his faculty position in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, McKether has served as associate dean in the College of Languages, Literature and Social Sciences. He is also a leader in the organization Brothers on the Rise, and an advisor to the Black Student Union. He is co-founder and co-director of the Multicultural Emerging Scholars Program, designed to retain students at The University of Toledo .

Dr. Shanda Gore will serve as associate vice president of the Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women and the Minority Business Development Center, working across UT to advance these organizations.

Campus and Community Reaction:
“I am pleased with the announcement by Dr. Sharon Gaber and The University of Toledo. For as long as I have known and worked with Dr. Willie McKether I have been impressed by his scholarship, integrity, and commitment to diversity, the University and our community.” – Toledo Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson

“Dr. Willie McKether is the right person, at the right time, working under the right president to further elevate diversity as a priority for The University of Toledo and for northwest Ohio.” — John C. Moore, community leader

“Dr. Willie McKether has been outstanding during this last year as The University of Toledo transitions to a truly diverse institution. I am very excited to see him step into the role of vice president for diversity and inclusion because he will unlock the potential of the Rocket community to be a diverse and inclusive home for everyone.” — Alexandria Hetzler, President of Spectrum

“Dr. Willie McKether is an inspirational figure in the African-American community. He has a contagious passion for education that has proven to be transformative for young people and especially young men. He possesses the strong moral values needed to inspire young people to believe in themselves and the possibilities for a bright future.” – The Rev. Otis J. Gordon Jr.

“Differences make communities stronger. The Disability Studies Program looks forward to partnering with Dr. McKether to advocate on behalf of persons with disabilities to break down barriers and celebrate those distinctions that make us all unique.” – Dr. Jim Ferris, chair of the UT Disabilities Studies Program and Ability Center Endowed Chair in Disability Studies

“UT plays an important diversity role in our community. Many of the area high school students attending UT are the first in their families to achieve the goal of a college degree. An investment in diversity is an investment in a strong community for years to come. I look forward to the continued partnership between UT, Toledo Public Schools and this community.” — Bob Vasquez, board of education president, Toledo Public Schools

An investigational technology is being studied to determine if it can assist in early breast cancer detection. This investigational technology that is being studied at The University of Toledo Medical Center uses thermal imaging to see if it can identify tumors. The radiation free and painless test uses cool air and a camera to measure the temperature of the skin surface.

Throughout 2016 patients visiting the Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center for a mammogram will be offered the opportunity to participate in the First Sense Medical research study to evaluate the effectiveness of the investigational First Sense Breast Exam procedure. The goal is to enroll up to 2,000 women who are 18 years of age or older in order to compare the results of both tests to determine the potential for the thermal scan to be used as an additional breast cancer detection tool.

“The mammogram has long been used as the standard of care in screening for breast cancer and through this clinical trial we are evaluating the First Sense Breast Exam as an adjunctive screening device for the detection of breast cancer that is radiation free and pain free with no breast compression or any physical contact with the patient. In this study, the First Sense Breast Exam is performed immediately prior to the mammogram in the same clinic visit,” said Dr. Haitham Elsamaloty, a UT radiologist and professor of radiology who is the principal investigator for the study.

The First Sense Breast Exam procedure takes less than 10 minutes. The patient disrobes from the waist up and sits on a chair in front of the machine’s infrared and 3D cameras. Thermal images are then taken from the front and sides of the breasts both before and after cool air is blown on the patient.

The patient is exposed to a cool air to cause normal blood vessels to contract and reduce the temperature of normal tissue, but the blood vessels that feed the tumor do not contract so the temperature of the tumor does not change. The infrared thermal imaging camera measures the difference in skin surface temperature to identify abnormalities.

“The thermal imaging screening could be particularly helpful for younger patients and women with dense breast tissue for which it is more difficult to detect tumors using mammography,” Elsamaloty said.

Media Coverage
13 ABC (May 19, 2016)
NBC 24 (May 19, 2016)

The Ohio Board of Regents will hold a public meeting Thursday, May 12 at The University of Toledo.

The nine-member advisory board to Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor John Carey will meet from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Driscoll Alumni Center Schmakel Room. A Condition Report Subcommittee Meeting from 8 to 9 a.m. will precede the meeting.

“The University of Toledo is honored to welcome Chancellor Carey and the Ohio Board of Regents to campus and we look forward to sharing the accomplishments of our students and faculty with the leaders of our state higher education system,” UT President Sharon L. Gaber said.

Gaber will welcome the board members and help kick off the meeting with a presentation about UT’s strategy for success and commitment to answering the state’s call for efficiency while providing an outstanding quality of education and support services for students.

For more information and a meeting agenda visit ohiohighered.org/board/meetings.

The planet Mercury transits the sun only about 13 times a century, and you can witness it next on Monday, May 9.

Mercury transits the Sun as seen from Earth in 2006. (Credit: ESA/NASA/SOHO)

The Ritter Planetarium at The University of Toledo is helping the community mark the occasion with programs at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. The 15-minute programs will be followed by a live-streaming image projected on the full-dome screen.

The Toledo Astronomical Association also will have a telescope with a solar filter on hand outside the planetarium so that people can see the transit live, weather permitting.

The planet will take about seven and a half hours to cross the sun. The last such transit was Nov. 8, 2006.

Media Coverage
WTOL 11 (May 6, 2016)
13 ABC (May 6, 2016)

About 100 students from public schools in Ohio and Michigan will present their science research projects at the SATELLITES Student Conference today at Penta Career Center.

The students, who represent grades kindergarten through college, will share their research related to the Earth’s environment through poster presentations that will be judged by local scientists and teachers.

The conference begins at 4:30 p.m. today (Friday, May 6) with students presenting their research to the judges from 5 to 6:45 p.m. in the Auditorium and Multipurpose Room at Penta Career Center, 9301 Buck Rd. in Perrysburg.

Laura Schetter, a teacher at Wildwood Environmental Academy, will give the keynote address at 7 p.m. about her research trip to Antarctica, which will be followed by the presentation of awards.

“The students from districts such as Toledo, Akron and Detroit designed research projects around their own science questions first creating a hypotheses, then collecting data and analyzing their findings to draw conclusions that will be shared through poster displays at the conference,” said Dr. Kevin Czajkowski, UT professor of geography and planning who created the SATELLITES program, which stands for Students And Teachers Exploring Local Landscapes to Interpret The Earth from Space.

Through the SATELLITES program, students have access to GLOBE resources to help answer their research questions. GLOBE is the acronym for Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment, which is an international science and education program that connects students, teachers, scientists and citizens from different parts of the world to conduct real, hands-on science about their local environment and put in a global perspective.