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Light at the end of the Tunnel

December 9, 2009

Metro Early College High School seniors get a glimpse of life after high school

By Julia Harris

They’re taller. They’re more self-assured. They’ve done things and been places — landfills, coal mines, sustainability conferences in Cleveland — most high school students wouldn’t even consider.

onCampus began following the lives of four Metro students from the time they arrived as bright-eyed freshmen at the then-brand-new Metro High School (now called Metro Early College High School) when it opened in 2006. Continue reading ‘Light at the end of the Tunnel’

An effort to recognize excellence

December 9, 2009

Former award winner makes it a point to see others honored for their distinguished work

By Adam King

Jeanne Osborne never met a job description she didn’t ignore. To the 22-year Ohio State employee, people were meant to do more with their careers than follow written parameters, and that’s how she’s approached every position while working in internal medicine or animal science. Continue reading ‘An effort to recognize excellence’

The man behind the curtain

December 9, 2009

Chris Adams orchestrates the kinds of leadership programs that make college — and high school — great

By Julia Harris

Chris Adams has one of those 4-in-1 jobs that can make life so interesting — and a business card simply inadequate.

“I’m the coordinator of undergraduate programs here at the John Glenn School of Public Affairs,” he said. Then he took a deep breath and added, “That means I oversee the day-to-day operations of the Washington Academic Internship Program, the John Glenn Learning Community, the high school internship program and the Civic Leadership Council.”

In other words, Adams is busy pretty much all the time.

The cyclical nature of his work, however, helps break up what might otherwise seem a bit overwhelming. And the fact that he loves what he does helps too.

“I didn’t do a Washington internship as an undergrad because I didn’t know the opportunity existed,” he said. “I would have really enjoyed it.”

Instead, he makes sure that other students not only know about the program but have every opportunity to succeed in it.

The Washington program, which has been in operation since 2000, sends juniors and seniors — many of whom are political science majors, but there also are many international studies and humanities majors — to Capitol Hill for a quarter-long unpaid internship with government agencies, non-profits, politicians or think tanks.

Typically, students put in four days a week at their internship and then take a seminar class that ultimately requires them to complete an independent research project on an issue related to their internship. For their efforts, students earn 15 academic credits — and an experience that will stay with them forever.

“The challenges students confront in DC are somewhat different from those an OSU junior or senior will typically encounter in Columbus,” said Ken Kolson, director of the internship program and coordinator of federal relations for the Glenn School. “When this program works the right way (and it usually does), the Glenn Fellows learn that they have what it takes to compete successfully, even on a playing field that may not be perfectly level. That’s an important lesson to learn, and one that gives a young person an added boost of well-justified confidence.”

The program is offered each quarter (students can apply for the spring/summer quarter, deadline Feb. 1) and has the capacity to send up to 25 students, even though that number tends to vary wildly — this fall, for instance, only eight students went to DC, but last summer there were the full 25.

Just as variable as attendance is the range of internship placements, which are tailored as closely as possible to student interest. Laura Allen, the DC-based program coordinator, pairs student to internship with the finesse of a professional matchmaker.

“It’s a unique process for each student, since we don’t simply filter different students, each quarter, into the same internships,” she said. “I make sure each student secures an internship that is reflective of their skills, interests and potential.”

As an example, Adams said, they’ve got one student for the winter trip who is majoring in agriculture. “We’re looking at placement with the Farm Bureau, or the National Wheat Growers’ Association, which is right across the street from our building there,” he said.

When not up to his eyebrows in the daily minutiae of coordinating the Columbus end of the DC internship program, Adams busies himself with a different cohort of would-be public servants. For the High School Internship Program, he works with central Ohio high schoolers to find them placement in local internships, ranging from city governments to the Ohio Statehouse to local non-profits like the Alzheimer’s Association.

“I was actually called up the other day by State Rep. Mark Schneider, who was asking about the availability of interns, so hopefully we’ll be able to place someone there in the future,” Adams said.

Woven into his work with these two internship programs is his active involvement with the John Glenn School of Public Affairs Learning Community, a group of first-year students living together in the Baker Hall East dorm who share interests in public service, public policy and civic engagement.

“This year, we’ve got 77 students, which is great considering we had about 25 last year,” Adams said. “We’ve done things like leadership training, team building and a high ropes course at Summit Vision. Sen. and Mrs. Glenn came and talked to them, and we’ve been to the Statehouse. I’m hoping to take them to the Freedom Center in Cincinnati and we’re planning a DC trip for Memorial Day.”

Added to this activity is his role as adviser for the student-run Civic Leadership Council, which is a non-partisan coalition devoted to the intelligent discussion and debate of public policy issues. The group has won the Outstanding Student Organization Award twice from the Student Union for hosting events such as this year’s forum on health care reform.

So does he feel a bit … overworked? Not really.

“These programs have done some great things and I think they can continue to grow,” he said. “We’re always looking for ways to enhance civic education and interest in public service among our students.”

A delicate balancing act

December 9, 2009

By Adam King

Two books, similar in every way, sit side by side on the shelf. Both are in good condition, poised to be read for decades to come.

Only one, however, may stay. The other must take a journey — one that helps the Ohio State Libraries to maintain the delicate balance between budget and space. Continue reading ‘A delicate balancing act’

New travel system cuts paperwork, saves time

December 9, 2009

By Jeff McCallister

Patrice Dickerson was feeling quite optimistic as she got off the phone.

The caller had informed her of a new college fair and Dickerson, director of diversity for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, knew it would be a perfect place to recruit some of the best and brightest minority students to come to Ohio State. Continue reading ‘New travel system cuts paperwork, saves time’

Defined benefit system should remain core of retirement plan

December 9, 2009

By Larry Lewellen

As the state of Ohio retirement systems seek revisions to their benefit requirements in order to remain appropriately funded and stable for the long term, which they are required to do by law, it’s only natural for our faculty and staff to have questions about what’s changing and how it will affect them. Continue reading ‘Defined benefit system should remain core of retirement plan’

An aging concern about drinking

December 9, 2009

Older problem drinkers use more alcohol than do younger ones

By Jeff Grabmeier, Research Communications

Older adults who have alcohol dependence problems drink significantly more than do younger adults who have similar problems, a new study has found.

The findings suggest that older problem drinkers may have developed a tolerance for alcohol and need to drink even more than younger abusers to achieve the effects they seek. Continue reading ‘An aging concern about drinking’

Jeff Grabmeier, research communications

December 9, 2009

Jeff Grabmeier is director of research communications and is active with the National Association of Science Writers.

What are your five favorite books and why?
Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence
I was assigned this book in a college literature class and was not looking forward to reading it. I’m so glad I did. It helped me overcome my fear of “great literature.”

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
What a wonderful and surprising novel.  Wickedly funny and yet sad at the same time. Even now, I love to pick it up and read passages.

A Natural History of the Senses by Diane Ackerman
I enjoy this book for the way the author explains science in such a philosophical and even poetic way.  In my mind, this qualifies as literature as much as science writing.

Out of the Comfort Zone by Frank Agin
Disclaimer: Frank is my brother-in-law.  But he also is a fine storyteller, and I found myself captivated by his novel of a college football team.

A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America by Roger Tory Peterson
Undoubtedly, there is no book that I have looked through more often in my life. I received my first copy when I was 11 years old, and still treasure it. This book sparked my interest not only in birds, but in the natural world around me.

What is the last book you bought?
Late Edition: A Love Story by Bob Greene. Greene talks about his early days as a newspaperman here in Columbus.  I started my career, as Greene did, at the Columbus Citizen-Journal; and some of the ink-stained wretches he worked with were still at the C-J years later when I was hired.

What magazines do you subscribe to and why?
Maybe it’s my short attention span, but I love magazines. You can probably tell a lot about my interests by the magazines I subscribe to: Newsweek, The New Yorker, Wired, Utne Reader, Rolling Stone, Birding and Audubon.

What’s your “guilty pleasure” – a book you love but don’t often talk about because it’s not “serious” literature?
Youth in Revolt by C.D. Payne. I bought it on a whim at a bookstore and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the campy, laugh-out-loud, coming-of-age story. It must be more popular than I thought, as I just learned it will soon be a major motion picture.

What genre of literature do you prefer to read (history, fiction, biography, etc.) and why?
I often read short-story collections, partly because it lets me sample fiction genres I wouldn’t normally seek out.  I recently enjoyed McSweeney’s Enchanted Chamber of Astonishing Stories, edited by Michael Chabon.

Booktalk appears regularly in onCampus and features the favorite book selections of an Ohio State staff or faculty member. To nominate someone for a future column, e-mail harris.587@osu.edu.

Carla Curtis, College of Social Work

December 9, 2009

What is African American children’s experience with the child welfare system?
If you look at the total population of children in the out-of-home care system — or children in foster care nationally — children of color are disproportionately represented. According to national statistics, in 2006 about 500,000 children were in the out-of-home care system at some time. African American children are more likely than white or Hispanic children to be placed in out-of-home care, and according to the US Government Accounting Office the disproportionality of African American children grows at every decision point in the child welfare process. Continue reading ‘Carla Curtis, College of Social Work’

Top 3 on 2, 12/10/09

December 9, 2009

Why did you choose to work at Ohio State?
I was interested in finding a place where I could create my future and Ohio State has more opportunities than any place else.

What do you like about your job?
I like the personal relationships I get to build among students. I have always been interested in developing students and preparing them for their next stage in life.

What would you improve at Ohio State?
Doing something great for all students. Ohio State focuses sharply on traditional students, but we have an obligation to make education attainable for all students.

If you weren’t working at Ohio State, what would you be doing?
I would write a sitcom for a TV network. I enjoy writing and have been told I am quite the comedian.

What advice would you give a new employee?
You are never too old to learn and never too young to teach.

What is your favorite activity outside of work?
I enjoy spending time with my wife and son outside of work. They are the joy of my life.

Of what honor or recognition are you most proud?
Being the first to graduate from college. Many children from my area are not afforded such an opportunity and it sets an example for them to follow.

Who is your hero?
My hero is my Aunt Valerie. She personifies hard work and dedication in every endeavor in life.

What are you going to do when you retire?
Write my life story.

If you were the university president for a day, what would you do?
I would reduce or eliminate the cost for parking, provide a meal plan for faculty and staff at a fair price and reduce the cost of child care services.

To nominate a staff member for an upcoming issue, e-mail oncampus@osu.edu.

Lonnie Thompson, professor of earth sciences and research scientist with the Byrd Polar Research Center, has been elected as a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Thompson joins a select few individuals from outside China who have received this honor.  Thompson’s award was “based on your scientific achievement and important contributions to promoting the development of science and technology in China.”

For several decades, Thompson’s research team has worked closely with scientists from China’s research institutes, on expeditions to ice fields on the Tibetan Plateau and in the Himalayas and on joint research studies. “The partnership with our Chinese colleagues is just one more reminder that science is an international pursuit and that the problems we face will require cooperation bridging national boundaries,” Thompson said.

In submitting Thompson’s name for membership, Professor Tandong Yao, director of the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, wrote, “Your election is a confirmation of your worldwide, acknowledged contribution to science,” adding that the Chinese Academy’s 419 members voted on Thompson’s nomination.

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