Hogan named interim dean of College of Humanities

Michael J. Hogan, chair of the Department of History, will serve as interim dean of the College of Humanities. The announcement was made in late April by by Edward J. Ray, executive vice president and provost.

Hogan was approved by the University's Board of Trustees at its May 7 meeting. He will succeed Kermit Hall, who is resigning as dean of the college in mid-July to become vice chancellor and provost at North Carolina State University.

"Under Kermit Hall's leadership, the College of Humanities has made extraordinary strides in scholarship and teaching," Ray said. "Similarly, the Department of History, under Michael Hogan's stewardship, has become one of the strongest and most innovative departments in the college and the entire University.

Michael Hogan

"I am confident that Professor Hogan will keep the college on this upward trajectory, and I am pleased that he has agreed to serve as interim dean while we undertake a national search for a permanent dean."

Hogan has been chair of the Department of History since 1993. He came to Ohio State in 1986 as a professor of history. A Ph.D. graduate of the University of Iowa, he taught at Miami University for nine years before joining the Ohio State faculty.

Hogan's teaching and scholarly interests are in American diplomatic and recent U.S. history. The author of three books, including a prize-winning history of the Marshall Plan, he also is the editor of five additional volumes and a recipient of the University's Distinguished Scholar Award.

The College of Humanities includes 13 departments. The college has 310 faculty, 2,228 undergraduate students enrolled in major programs and 664 students in graduate studies, and offers 3,317 classes to 96,000 students annually.

Library candidates to visit campus

The search committee for the director of University Libraries has invited three candidates to campus for two-day interviews.

All candidates will give a public presentation on their vision of the library in the academic enterprise, technology in the future of academic research libraries and their philosophy of leadership and management. Presentations will be held from 9:30-10:30 a.m. May 17, 24 and 26 in the Grand Lounge of the Faculty Club.

Candidates include Joseph J. Branin, dean of libraries, SUNY at Stony Brook; Nancy Baker, director of libraries, Washington State University, Pullman; and Larry Alford, senior associate university librarian, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Town meeting looks at diverse society

Preparing students for a diverse society will be the topic of an Ohio State town meeting from 7:30 to 9 p.m. May 17 at the Fawcett Center.

Clarence N. Wood, president of the Human Relations Foundation of Chicago, will moderate the discussion. Panelists include President Kirwan; Edward J. Ray, executive vice president and provost; David Williams II, vice president of student and urban/community affairs; and Mike Curtin, president, associate publisher and editor of The Columbus Dispatch.

A reception with refreshments will follow the meeting, which is free and open to the public. WOSU-TV will tape the event and air it at a later date.

The town meeting is part of Ohio State's continuing involvement in the national Racial Legacies and Learning Initiative. Sponsors of the meeting are the Racial Legacies and Learning Initiative, The Race Relations Council of The United Way, Coca-Cola and Ohio State.

Outreach Roundtable scheduled for May 18

Bobby Moser, vice president and executive dean of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, will be the guest speaker at the Outreach and Engagement Roundtable from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 18 at the Ohio Union Terrace Room.

Moser serves as chair of both the President's Council for Outreach and Engagement and the Outreach and Engagement Steering Committee.

The discussion will focus on the work of these two groups and outreach and engagement as one of the four priority areas for the University.

A brown bag lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Beverages will be provided. The event is open to the public.

To register, e-mail osucares-@osu.edu.

Research on race subject of forum

Understanding more about race in American society is the aim of the Racial Legacies and Learning Spring Research Forum from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 20 at the Ohio Union Conference Theater.

Ohio State faculty who have conducted research pertaining to race and racism will present their findings during three panel discussions.

Claude Steele, professor of psychology at Stanford University and an Ohio State alumnus, will present "A Threat in the Air: How Stereotypes Shape Intellectual Identity and Performance," which addresses barriers faced by women and African Americans and practices that reduce the negative effects related to stereotype threats.

The forum is sponsored by the Office of Academic Affairs and the Ohio Union. The event is free and open to the public.

NEH project chooses Comparative Studies

The Division of Comparative Studies has been selected as the area liaison for a National Endowment for Humanities-sponsored collaborative project with the Columbus Alternative High School and the American Studies program at Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center.

The project will result in a course taught by professors Eugene Holland and Julia Watson, who will teach in each other's classes and perform joint activities.

Employees invited to Wyandot Lake

Faculty, staff and their families are invited to enjoy a day of fun and relaxation at the annual employee appreciation event from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 19 at Wyandot Lake, 10101 Riverside Drive.

Tickets are $9 per person if purchased June 1-16, and $12 per person if purchased June 17-19. Children 3 and younger are free. Wyandot Lake season pass holders may purchase a meal ticket for $5 per person.

Ticket price includes admission to the park, access to all amusement rides and water attractions, entertainment, soft drinks, and a meal of a hamburger, chicken, baked beans, potato chips and ice cream.

Tickets go on sale June 1 at all regional campuses, the Office of Human Resources Customer Services Center, University Hospitals Gift Shop, University Bookstore, the Faculty Club, Larkins Hall, Drake Union Business Office and Wexner Center ticket office. For more information, call Judi McMahon at 292-0641.

TELR holds discussion on Web-based tool

The Office of Technology Enhanced Learning and Research (TELR) will hold a brown bag discussion on WebCT from 1-3:30 p.m. May 17 at 120 Baker Systems.

WebCT is a tool designed to deliver online learning that incorporates sophisticated Web-based techniques. It can be used to create entire online courses or to simply publish materials that supplement existing courses.

The event is free and open to the public. To register, call 688-5875 or e-mail bucy.5@osu.edu.