Muskingum College U.S. D.O.E. grant draws a media crowd

Muskingum College is the only private college in Ohio to receive a major grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help train highly qualified teachers of students with disabilities such as learning disabilities, emotional disturbances and mental retardation. An August 4 press conference to announce the grant was covered by The Zanesville Times Recorder (read the story), The Daily Jeffersonian (read the story) and WHIZ-TV, the NBC affiliate in Zanesville. Among those on hand were U.S. Congressman Zack Space, seen here in an interview with WHIZ-TV. To read the complete story about the grant, click here.

Media gets first-hand look at new Walter K. Chess Center

Muskingum College President Anne C. Steele recently took the media on a tour of the new Walter K. Chess Center, the college’s new student center, which will open at the start of the 2008-2009 academic year. The July 28 event also provided an update on the construction of Otto and Fran Walter Hall, the college’s new home for music; and the John and Ruth Neptune Center for the Arts, which will house the art department’s programs in ceramics, sculpture and other three-dimensional creative work. The Zanesville Times Recorder (read the story), the Daily Jeffersonian (read the story) and WHIZ-TV (read the story), the NBC affiliate in Zanesville, all attended.

Head Coach Donna Newberry and softball team featured on CBS Sports

Muskingum College Head Softball Coach Donna Newberry and several members of the Muskingum softball team were interviewed by CBS Sports at this year's NCAA Division III World Series in Salem, Virginia. The network's 2008 NCAA Spring Championship Highlight show featured Coach Newberry's battle against breast cancer and the team's run to the World Series.

Muskingum College professor featured for teaching award

Muskingum College Professor of Education Dr. Linda Morrow was named Ohio Professor of the Year by CASE and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Her story was picked up by The Daily Jeffersonian and the Zanesville Times Recorder. To read more about the accomplishments that led to her national recognition, click here.

Student-firefighters featured in The Columbus Dispatch

Muskingum College students Matt Hamsher, Josh DeWinter and Zach Rudy were featured in a December 10, 2007 Columbus Dispatch story on college students who also serve their communities as firefighters. The three are a part of the New Concord Fire Department, and in the article, Fire Chief Brent Gates spoke highly of their impact on his department. The story was then picked up by the Associated Press and has appeared in a wide variety of print and electronic media outlets across Ohio. To read the story, click here.

Heacock brothers football heritage featured in The Plain Dealer

The The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) featured an article on the long and storied football heritage of the Heacock brothers:  Jim, Jon and Muskingum’s own former head football coach, Jeff.  The story also featured the patriarch of this long tradition, the brothers’ dad, Clint.     

Newspaper chain features 2007 graduate commencement speaker Paul J. Stankard

The Sun Chronicle, which covers 11 cities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, featured 2007 graduate commencement speaker Paul J. Stankard.  Stankard is a world-renowned glass artist whose address at Muskingum, titled No Green Berries or Leaves, told the story of his struggle to overcome dyslexia.  Stankard is a native of Attleboro, Massachusetts, one of the cities the Chronicle covers.

The story of his visit to Muskingum and how he came to know President Anne C. Steele was also picked up in the Gloucester County Times.

Dr. Amy Santas featured for her efforts in cancer research

The Daily Jeffersonian (Cambridge) ran a front page story on Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Amy Santas and the cancer research she and some of her students are conducting at Muskingum. The story also chronicles her migration to Muskingum from a major west coast institution, and covers the support for her work that she has received from the college.

Vice President of Enrollment Jeff Zellers interviewed by The Columbus Dispatch

The impact of Ohio Governor Ted Strickland’s proposed cuts to the Ohio Student Choice Grant was the subject of a story in The Columbus Dispatch.  Jeff Zellers, vice president of enrollment at Muskingum, was interviewed for the story, along with other senior level administrators at other Ohio colleges, to discuss the possible consequences of the proposed cuts. 

President Anne C. Steele interviewed by The New York Times

Muskingum College President Anne C. Steele was interviewed by The New York Times for an article written by Jonathan Glater and Alan Finder that surveyed the impact of tuition strategies at colleges and universities.  Muskingum is considered the institution that successfully pioneered tuition reduction strategy, and the article cites the positive results that strategy produced at Muskingm. To access the article, click here to check the newspaper's archives.

Dr. Paul Reichardt featured in article on helping students make important decisions

Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Paul Reichardt was featured in a front-page article in The Times Recorder. The article focused on what colleges are doing to help students make some of their most difficult academic and career decisions.  In his interview with reporter Holly Richards, Dr. Reichardt cited the many personalized services Muskingum offers, including the first-year seminar class and other, one-on-one consultations the students have at their disposal.   

Dr. Eileen Henry interviewed by National Public Radio affiliate WOUB regarding nationally recognized PLUS Program and "First Step"

Dr. Eileen Henry, executive director of the Center for Advancement of Learning, was interviewed by National Public Radio affiliate station WOUB in Athens, Ohio. She spoke with their news director, Fred Kight, about First Step, a summer camp designed to improve the academic skills of persons with learning disabilities and/or ADHD.

The Center for the Advancement of Learning has provided academic support to Muskingum students for more than two decades. "Participants in First Step develop a better understanding of their unique learning styles, as well as plans for improving their opportunities for academic success," Dr. Henry said.

Muskingum's nationally-recognized PLUS program was also mentioned in the interview. The program offers comprehensive academic support services for students with specific learning disabilities. Those services include tutoring by qualified professionals, advice regarding the number and mix of courses, and group study opportunities.

Beacon Journal notes biology professor’s work at The Wilds

Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Danny Ingold was interviewed by The Akron Beacon Journal for a story on the importance of reclaimed mining land as a new habitat for certain bird populations.  The article focused on his work at The Wilds, a 10,000 acre reclamation project that is home to a major animal habitat and research facility.  Dr. Ingold has been conducting research at The Wilds with Muskingum College students as a part of classroom experiences during the regular academic year and as a continuing study during the college’s Summer Fellows program.   The story was picked up by the Associated Press and distributed to throughout Ohio.

Geology professor featured in The C olumbus Dispatch and on Associated Press radio

Assistant Professor of Geology Dr. Stephen Van Horn was featured in an article in The Columbus Dispatch titled “New interactive teaching technique clicks with students.” The story describes Dr. Van Horn’s use of a Personal Response System (PRS) in his Introduction to Geology class. Muskingum College is one of only a few institutions in the country that are using this system as a part a research project based at the University of Akron.

The system allows students to answer multiple choice questions through the use of a remote device that transmits their answers to a PowerPoint screen. The PRS then calculates and displays to what extent the answers were correct. Dr. Van Horn uses this measurement to stimulate class discussion and give the students a chance to better understand the material they are studying and, if necessary, reassess their answers.

In the article, students from the class give rave reviews to both the device and Dr. Van Horn’s effective use of it.

This same story was also picked up by the Associated Press, and ran on its national radio feed the day after it appeared in the Dispatch. It has also appeared on a news service provided by the Ohio Board of Regents.

In the photo: Dr. Stephen Van Horn teaches using the Personal Response System.