Greetings from your Alumni Office!

ODU’s hallways and campus are full of activity as students return from Spring Break. Their energy is a constant reminder of what ODU is about and how lives are changed daily: from the commitment of our faculty and staff, who help to ensure our students have the very best experiences possible, to President Gervasi mingling with the ODU Campus Community over lunch in Hamilton Hall.

ODU’s Athletic Office is also busy with the beginning of the spring sports season. I hope you’re able to join us as we cheer on our student-athletes to success! In addition, Ohio Dominican will soon host the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Elite Eight and National Championship in Alumni Hall on March 26, 27 & 29.

We continue to strive to grow our alumni participation and giving to ODU, and hope you will make a difference this fiscal year (July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019). Help make the ODU experience possible for more students by making a gift today.

Learn more about these news items and so much more by reading this month’s ODU Insider!

God bless, 

Christie Flood Weiner '90
Director of Alumni Relations

ODU to Host Preview Day on March 23
Ohio Dominican will host Preview Days from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 23. Interested high school students and their families can register for the free event by clicking here. During Preview Day, students can take a tour of campus, explore available majors, discuss available financial aid options, enjoy a complimentary meal, learn about student clubs and honors programs, meet with professors in their field of interest, and talk with current students about why they chose to attend ODU. 

Summer Scholars Program July 8-12
High school students graduating in 2020, 2021 or 2022 are invited to attend Ohio Dominican University’s Summer Scholars Program from July 8-12. The five-day program consists of four daily classes, which include classroom discussions, out-of-classroom labs, and numerous hands-on activities. The camp costs $150 per student for the daytime-only option or $350 for the overnight option. It will take place on ODU’s campus at 1216 Sunbury Road, Columbus, 43219. Participants will not receive college credit. Registration is limited to the first 50 respondents. Click here to register and learn more.

ODU Alumnus, John Robinson ’91, Living and Sharing His Passion
ODU’s Office of Marketing and Public Relations recently produced a video featuring John Robinson ’91, who owns Johnny Velo Bikes in Clintonville and was recently named Businessperson of the Year by the Clintonville Area Chamber of Commerce. Learn about his journey by clicking the video below.

Ohio Dominican to Host Discussion on Opioid Epidemic on April 15
Ohio Dominican will address and explore the current opioid epidemic on Monday, April 15, as it hosts, “Inside the Epidemic: The Opioid Crisis in Columbus.” The free event will take place in the Matesich Theatre. The event will begin with a reception at 6:15 p.m., and then continue with a panel discussion from 7-9 p.m. Featured panelists include anesthesiologist Steven Lins, MD; a representative from the Columbus Division of Fire; and individuals who are currently recovering from addiction. The discussion was scheduled after a group of students from Cristo Rey and Bishop Ready high schools presented the idea during ODU’s Catholic High School Visit Day on May 3, 2018. Click here for more information. 

Attend ODU's St. Catherine of Siena Lecture on April 25
Ohio Dominican’s Center for Dominican Studies and Office of Academic Affairs will host its annual St. Catherine of Siena Lecture at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, 2019. The lecture will take place in the Colonial Room, located in Sansbury Hall. The lecture is free and open to the public. Sr. Megan McElroy, OP, D.Min., will present, “Justice – Seeing Catherine through Contemporary Eyes.” Sr. McElroy currently serves on the leadership team of the Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Click here for more information.

Find Job and Internship Postings on The ODU JobLine
Are you looking for a job? The ODU JobLine lists part- and full-time employment opportunities that are available for ODU students and alumni. Job seekers are able to post resumes, search listings and, in many cases, apply online. New job postings are added daily. There are currently nearly 500 internship, part- and full-time positions on the JobLine.

IRA Charitable Rollover: A Great Way to Help Support ODU
You may be looking for a way to make a big difference to help further ODU’s mission and help our students. If you are 70½ or older you may also be interested in a way to lower the income and taxes from your IRA withdrawals. An IRA charitable rollover is a way you can help.

Benefits of an IRA Charitable Rollover

• Avoid taxes on transfers of up to $100,000 from your IRA to ODU
• Satisfy your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year
• Reduce your taxable income, even if you do not itemize deductions
• Make a gift that is not subject to the deduction limits on charitable gifts
• Help further the work and mission of ODU

How an IRA Charitable Rollover Gift Works

1. Contact your IRA plan administrator to make a gift from your IRA to ODU.
2. Your IRA funds will be directly transferred to ODU to help continue our important work.
3. Please note that IRA charitable rollover gifts do not qualify for a charitable deduction.
4. You can designate your gift to be used for a specific purpose or for the area of greatest need.

A group of ODU students who work at the Computer Helpdesk were featured in an article in the March 5 edition of The Columbus Dispatch. The article discusses their work to knit hats and scarves to donate to homeless men, women and children in Central Ohio. Click here to read the article.

Jeremy Glazier, English, presented a paper, “A ‘Giraffe’ Among the Beauties: Lucie Brock-Broido’s Final Self-Portrait,” on Feb. 22 at the Louisville Conference on Literature & Culture Since 1900. The paper examines a long poem published in The New Yorker last March, three weeks after the author’s unexpected death. 

Maj. Gen. Dennis Laich (Ret.), PATRIOTS Program, served as a panelist at the U.S.-Asia Security Initiative Conference on March 5 at Stanford University. The conference was chaired by Ambassador Karl Eikenberry and featured government and academic national security experts. 

Julie Hart, Ph.D., Sociology, presented a paper, “Religion as a Catalyst for Antiwar Identity Change among US Veterans,” on Feb. 23 at the annual Ashland University Nonviolence Conference. 

Ted Zigler, Ph.D. and Sr. JoAnn Hohenbrink, Ph.D., Education, presented a paper, “Developing Principals to Maximize the Use of Teacher Leaders for School Improvement,” on March 4 at the Critical Questions in Education Conference in Savannah, Georgia.

Sr. Mary Ann Fatula, OP, who taught theology at Ohio Dominican for many years, has published a small book on heaven that draws from insights of the saints. The book, “Heaven's Splendor and the Joys that Await You There,” is available at Sophia Institute.

March 31, 2019: Alumni Cleveland Event in the Home of Dick & Dee Liotta Christie ’60
All alumnae and alumni who live in Cleveland are invited to join President and Mrs. Robert Gervasi, Ph.D. for a special Lunch and Conversation event on Sunday, March 31. The event will take place from noon to 2 p.m. at the home of Dick and Dee (Liotta) Christie ’60. We hope you will join us! For more information or to RSVP, please contact Christie Flood Weiner ’90 at 614-253-3502 or weinerc@ohiodominican.edu. 

April 24, 2019: Blessing of the Newly Renovated Matesich Theatre and Celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Dominican Sisters of Peace
We hope you’ll join us at 3:30 p.m. for the blessing of the newly restored Matesich Theatre. Immediately following, we will gather at the St. Catherine of Siena statue located between Erskine Hall and the Spangler Learning Center for a prayer ritual and blessing and planting of two burning bushes to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Dominican Sisters of Peace. 

April 26, 2019: Special Scholarship Event on Campus to Recognize Scholarship Donors and Student Recipients
This event will celebrate the success of our students and thank donors who generously support scholarship funds at ODU. 

April 26-27, 2019: St. Mary of the Springs College Reunion (Classes of 1939-1968)
Calling all St. Mary of the Springs College alumnae and alumni! This year’s Reunion will kick off with a Reunion Reception in the home of President and Mrs. Robert Gervasi, Ph.D. at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 26, followed by a day full of events on Saturday, April 27. The classes ending in ‘4 and ‘9 have a special reunion this year! You should have recently received registration materials in the mail. We hope to see you there! For any questions, please contact Christie Flood Weiner ’90 at 614-253-3502 or weinerc@ohiodominican.edu.

April 28 – June 14: Senior Exhibition in the Wehrle Art Gallery
You’re invited to join us from 2-4:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 28, for an opening reception of this year’s 2019 Senior Exhibition. This exhibition features the outstanding work of our senior Art, Art Education and Graphic Design students, and features a range of content and media.

June 7-16, 2019: ODU Trip to Paris with Dr. Ron Carstens and Sr. Joan Franks, OP ’64

Join Dr. Ron Carstens and Sr. Joan Franks, OP ’64 for an “Art & Architecture of Paris & Toulouse” trip from June 7-16, 2019. Included highlights: Louvre, Musée de Cluny, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Palace of Versailles, Chartres Cathedral, Hôtel des Invalides, Giverny, Place du Capitole, Maison de la Violette, Pères Dominicans Catholic Church, St. Mary Monastery of Prouilhe, and Gaillac wine region. For any questions or for more information please contact Dr. Ron Carstens at carstenr@ohiodominican.edu.

News

Sharlene J. Harris ’94 has been appointed vice president of information services and institutional assessment at the University of the Virgin Islands. In this senior leadership position, Sharlene is responsible for managing the university’s use of technology and information resources as well as directing ongoing assessment initiatives across the institution.

Jessica Benjoya ’18, Physician Assistant Studies, was a contestant on Wheel of Fortune Monday, March 4. Click here to watch her compete in the Bonus Round. 

David Flavius ’00 has been named to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Hall of Fame inaugural class. As a forward, David holds the soccer club record in numerous statistics including games played, goals and assists. He is the only player to have recorded at least 100 points in club history. He was also a two-time All-League selection during the course of his eight-season Pittsburgh career. He was inducted into the Ohio Dominican University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009. 

Nikki Hamilton Gardner ’04 and Stephen Gardner were married February 20, 2018, in Jacksonville, Florida. Their new son, Jackson Wyatt Gardner, was born March 8, 2019. 

Chris Reisert ’09, MBA ’11 was recently named head football coach for Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio. Chris was the offensive coordinator for Ohio Dominican for the past two years. 

Emily Pearson ’15 is employed by the University of Central Florida as an Academic Advisor. 

Dez Stewart ’15 has signed with the Albany Empire of the Arena Football League for the 2019 season. 

Grant Russell ’18 has signed with the Columbus Destroyers of the Arena Football League for the 2019 season.

In Memoriam

Ann Natalie Hanson ’48, February 28, 2019

Eileen Warren Herald ’52, February 26, 2019

Shirley Nolan McCaffrey ’51, February 8, 2019

Marilyn Vance Sullivan ‘52, February 16, 2019

Patricia Stanton Charles ’53, February 27, 2019; Sister-in law of Jo Charles McGinnis ’52, Sara Charles Kennedy ’56 and Dr. Isabel Charles, Friend

Joseph Bybee ’69, August 23, 2013

Michael T. Gray ’78, February 13, 2019

Michael J. Konet, February 15, 2019, father of Allie Konet ‘04

Joseph Siemer, February 21, 2019, father of Carol Siemer Spellacy ’10 MED

• February 2019
• January 2019

• December 2018
• November 2018
• October 2018
• September 2018
• August 2018
• July 2018
• June 2018
• May 2018
• April 2018
• March 2018
• February 2018
• January 2018

• December 2017
• November 2017
• October 2017
• September 2017
• August 2017
• July 2017
• May 2017
• April 2017
• March 2017
• February 2017
• January 2017

2016

• December 2016 
• November 2016