University names new dean of the College of Optometry

Board to consider appointment of Shipp at Feb. 6 meeting

President Karen Holbrook and Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Barbara Snyder have recommended the appointment of Melvin Shipp as dean of the College of Optometry, effective June 1 through June 30, 2009. Holbrook will ask the university’s Board of Trustees to approve the appointment at its Feb. 6 meeting. Karla Zadnik, professor of optometry and vision science, will continue as interim dean of the college until May 31. 

Shipp is a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. While at Alabama, he served as director of the Optometric Technician Program in the School of Public and Allied Health and as assistant dean for Clinical Services and director of clinics in the School of Optometry. 

Melvin Shipp

Shipp is a retired captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve and serves as the professional school liaison officer for the University of Alabama. He served on active duty as chief of optometry service in the Naval Hospital at Port Hueneme, Calif., from 1972-'76.

Shipp’s national appointments include committee membership with the National Eye Institute in Bethesda and the National Research Council/Transportation Research Board in Washington, D.C. Other professional memberships include the American Academy of Optometry, the American Medical Association, the American Optometric Association, and the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry. He also has served as a reviewer for major optometry journals. 

"I am delighted that we found someone with the distinguished background of Dr. Shipp to serve as a leader for the College of Optometry," Holbrook said. "He has a well-respected scholarly record and I am certain the college will benefit enormously from his experience and leadership. We look forward to welcoming him to the entire university community."

Shipp earned his B.S. in zoology and a doctorate in optometry from Indiana University, his master of public health degree from Harvard University and his doctor of public health degree from the University of Michigan. He is only the second optometrist to receive the doctor of public health degree and is the first to do so through the highly competitive Pew Health Policy Doctoral Fellowship Program at the University of Michigan.

Shipp has the distinction of being the only optometrist to receive a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowship, during which he completed a one-year congressional fellowship as a health legislative assistant in the U.S. Senate. Additionally, Shipp has served as a consultant, panelist and grant reviewer for several federal institutions, notably the Food and Drug Administration, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He also was named Pew Doctoral Fellow at the University of Michigan.

Shipp has had numerous articles published in peer-reviewed journals and is a senior scientist on an $8 million multi-center grant looking at relationships between ethnicity and vision problems. The eight-year study, sponsored by the NIH, is being carried out at Ohio State and the University of Alabama, among others. Shipp also teaches both applied clinical and public health-related courses.

The Office of Academic Affairs conducted a national search to fill the dean position. The search committee was chaired by Betty Lenz, dean of the College of Nursing, and provided a slate of names to Holbrook and Snyder for consideration.

"The group did a wonderful job identifying outstanding candidates during its search process," Snyder said. "Dr. Shipp’s impressive credentials and extensive experience in both the academic and administrative worlds will serve him well as the leader for the college. We are very pleased that he agreed to accept the deanship of our top-ranked College of Optometry."

"I am deeply honored and very excited about assuming the deanship of the College of Optometry," Shipp said. "I look forward to working with Ohio State faculty, students, staff and administrators to advance the college’s professional, academic and research programs. Together, we will further the goals of the Academic Plan and make Ohio State’s College of Optometry the premier school in the nation."

United Black World Month 2004

Events to mark celebration of strength through diversity

By LIZ COOK, Media Relations

Political activist, writer and hip-hop historian Kevin Powell is the keynote speaker for United Black World Month (UBWM) at Ohio State Feb. 1-29. "Celebrate -- ‘Our Diversity, Our Strength'" is the theme for the 34th annual celebration. Most events are free and open to the public.

Powell will speak at 7 p.m. on Feb. 5 in the Main Ballroom of the Ohio Union. He is the author of five books, including Who’s Gonna Take the Weight? Manhood, Race, and Power in America, and contributed to the New York Times bestseller Tupac Shakur. Powell also was an original cast member on the MTV series "Real World."

Belinda Higgs, coordinator for African-American Student Services and UBWM, said that Powell was selected because of the unique connection he has with young African-American men.

"Kevin Powell is a multi-talented artist," Higgs said. "Through many of his own experiences he can identify with many of the issues and challenges impacting African-American men and communicate solutions.

"Kevin will talk to our students about community, identity and the quest for a positive life."

Below is a portion of the UBWM calendar of events.

Jan. 27

Discussion with best-selling author E. Lynn Harris, 7:30 p.m., Ohio Union, Conference Theatre. Harris, the author of eight novels about black culture and the black gay and bisexual experience, will discuss his writings and life as both a Christian and a member of the GLBT community.

Feb. 2

African-American Quiz Bowl, 6-8 p.m., Hale Black Cultural Center. Student organizations will show their knowledge of African-American history in a game show setting. Prizes will be awarded.

Feb. 2-27

Black History Month Art Exhibit, Bricker Hall. Exhibit will feature artwork collections from throughout the university and from local artists.

Feb. 3

Flag Wars, 7 p.m., Multicultural Center. Participants will view excerpts from Flag Wars, a movie that depicts the challenges between long-time African-American residents of a historic Columbus neighborhood and their new neighbors, some who also happen to be gay. A group discussion will follow.

Feb. 4

Motivational Speaker Tei Street, 12:30 p.m., 365 Gerlach Hall. Street will present "Remembering the Past and Embracing the Future!"

"Free Willie -- Identifying and Unleashing Your Innate Abilities," 6-8 p.m., Hale Black Cultural Center. Calvin Mackie, associate professor at Tulane University, will expose students to concepts, ideologies and perspectives of education with the ultimate aim of intellectual, spiritual and emotional stimulation.

Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25

NAACP Black Star Power Black History Movie Series, 7 p.m., Hale Black Cultural Center. The NAACP will host the movie series and hold a brief discussion following each showing. The selected movies are Higher Learning, School Days, Do the Right Thing and Get On the Bus.

Feb. 5

Movie Night and Discussion, 5:30 p.m., Gerlach Hall. Participants will view a historical movie followed by a group discussion led by Sue Josephs, associate dean of the Fisher College of Business.

Step in the Name of Love Dance Lesson (Part 1), 6:30-8:30 p.m., Baker Hall, West Recreation Room. Instructors will incorporate fitness in a fun and unique way by offering free dance lessons on the latest hand-dance moves.

UBWM 34th Annual Celebration featuring keynote speaker Kevin Powell, 7-9 p.m., Ohio Union, Main Ballroom. Powell, a journalist, hip-hop historian, political activist and multi-media commentator, will speak specifically on community, identity and a positive lifestyle as it relates to the African-American male experience on college campuses. A reception and book signing will follow.

Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27

Soul Food Lunches, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Hale Black Cultural Center. Local caterers will provide outstanding soul food meals for faculty, staff and students. Check the Web at http://oma.osu.edu/hal/for prices and menus. Reservations are required by Wednesday of each week. Call 292-0074 for more information.

Feb. 11

College Football, The Color Barrier, The NFL Past and Present, 6 p.m., Ohio Conference Theater. Scholarly presentation on recent publication of Outside the Lines: African Americans and the Integration of the National Football League, written by alumnus Charles Ross. A panel discussion will follow.

Feb. 12

Stereotypes of a Race: What Exactly Does it Mean To Be of African Descent?, 7-9:30 p.m. Hale Black Cultural Center. Faculty from OSU and surrounding universities will participate in a panel discussion exploring the foundations of stereotypes.

For more information, contact the Multicultural Center at 688-8449 or visit http://multiculturalcenter.osu.edu/afam/Calendar.asp.

News briefs

Recent news items in an abbreviated format.

OHR fulfills public records request

In December, the Columbus Dispatch delivered a public records request to Ohio State, asking for an electronic file of human resources system information on all faculty and staff. According to Larry Lewellen, associate vice president for human resources, under the public records statute in Ohio, the university is required to comply. As such, the Office of Human Resources sent a file containing the requested fields of name, title, rank, gender, race/ethnicity, salary and business address. The file did not contain Social Security numbers, birth dates, home addresses, or any phone numbers or e-mail addresses. All regular employees were included, as there are no provisions for any exceptions in the law.

"It is our belief that they intend to use this only for news reporting and will maintain security to preclude any possibility of identity theft," Lewellen said. "We believe it is our responsibility to inform you that this information request has occurred, and hope that you understand our obligations under Ohio law. We do not believe there are any actions required of you."

Hoffsis to leave for post at Iams Company

Glen Hoffsis, dean of veterinary medicine since 1993 and executive dean of health sciences, has been appointed director of veterinary services at The Iams Company, effective April 1. Hoffsis will serve in his current positions until the end of March. He also will complete his role as chair of the national search committee for Ohio State’s new provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. As dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, he helped restructure its departments from five to three -- Veterinary Biosciences, Veterinary Clinical Sciences and Veterinary Preventive Medicine -- in alignment with the college’s mission. He also developed a strategic plan with the goal of becoming the premier College of Veterinary Medicine in North America and guided the development of three buildings -- the Galbreath Equine Center, the Veterinary Administration Building and the Large Animal Field Services Clinic in Marysville, Ohio. Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Barbara Snyder said an interim dean will be named shortly.

Ballengee Morris named director of MCC

Christine Ballengee Morris, interim director of the Multicultural Center since its establishment in 2001, has been named to the position on a permanent basis. Bill Hall, vice president for student affairs, and Barbara Snyder, interim executive vice president and provost, announced that they will recommend Ballengee Morris'appointment to the university’s Board of Trustees at its Feb. 6 meeting.

Located in the Ohio Union, the Multicultural Center is a partnership between the Office of Student Affairs, headed by Hall, and the Office of Academic Affairs, headed by Snyder, and provides intellectual and cultural enrichment programs and services for students, faculty, staff and the community.

Fountain to retire; search for TWP director begins

Judy Fountain, assistant vice provost for women’s policy initiatives and director of The Women’s Place (TWP), has announced that she will retire June 30. Since its inception in 1999, Fountain has been the driving force behind TWP, facilitating improvement in the working environment for women and championing issues of importance to women in support of the university’s goals of recruiting and retaining women and minorities. She also advocated for the Faculty Cohort Research Project, an outgrowth of the President’s Council on Women’s Issues on which she serves as an ex-officio member.

Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Barbara Snyder has appointed Kathryn Haller, associate general counsel for health sciences and chair of the council, to lead the search to find a new director for The Women’s Place. Snyder anticipates the search will be complete by the end of winter quarter.

Study examines usage of electronic resources

Researchers at Ohio State are part of a new study to find out how and why students and faculty members use electronic information sources to do research and solve problems. The $1 million project is a collaboration between Ohio State and the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC). According to Brenda Dervin, a professor in the School of Journalism and Communication and principal investigator for the project, the long-term goal is to answer questions that will benefit all users of electronic research resources, such as the Internet and e-books. The project will be partially funded with a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the remainder of the funding will come from Ohio State and OCLC.

Blackwell joins elite resort collection

The Blackwell Inn recently became a member of Summit Hotels and Resorts, a prestigious collection of more than 140 independently owned and managed luxury hotels that also is affiliated with Preferred Hotels and Resorts. Blackwell General Manager Doug Koyle said that membership in Summit provides the 151-room hotel, located on the Fisher College campus, with substantial marketing resources. Although each property is distinctive, all must adhere to Summit Hotels and Resorts'rigorous selection criteria, which includes guest service standards for hotel, banquet and restaurant operations, and facilities. The Blackwell is the first Summit hotel in Ohio and one of only 15 Summit hotels located in the United States.