Colleagues,

I hope you had a refreshing Thanksgiving break. We have a number of engagement stories and opportunities to share in this months newsletter. One last reminder, nominations for all of our award programs are open until Dec. 15. We encourage you to nominate yourself, colleagues or students who are supporting engaged scholarship! If you have any questions regarding your nomination, please contact Assistant Vice Provost Nicole Nieto or me. We are excited to review this years nominations.

The Office of Outreach and Engagements grant program is an important mechanism for supporting the work of engaged scholars across our campuses. The grant program for the 2024-25 academic year will be announced on Jan. 13. Be on the lookout for our announcement and upcoming virtual Q&A sessions.

In addition to engagement opportunities, below you will find additional stories about our engaged scholars, information about the Schweitzer Fellows program and a fantastic summary of the dialogue at this years Engaged Scholarship Symposium.

Wishing you a productive end to the autumn semester and a wonderful holiday season.

Sincerely,

Jason Reece
Vice Provost for Urban Research and
Community Engagement
Office of Academic Affairs

Ohio States community partnerships are focus of Engaged Scholarship event

Students, faculty and staff at Ohio State and their community partners shared their work and how it benefits Ohioans during the Engaged Scholarship Symposium, presented by the Office of Outreach and Engagement in November.

We want to use the symposium as an opportunity to celebrate and shine a light on some of the great work thats happening here at the university, but more importantly in collaboration with our partners here in central Ohio and throughout the state, said Jason Reece, vice provost of urban research and community engagement.

Apply Now: University Outreach and Engagement Awards

Ohio State is seeking nominations for the 2025 University Outreach and Engagement Awards, which honor faculty, staff and students for outstanding achievement in producing engaged scholarship and community impact. Awards will be given in three categories: Community Engaged Scholar, Community Engaged Practitioner (for staff) and Community Engaged Graduate Student. Apply by Dec. 15.

Call for Proposals: Programs of Excellence in Engaged Scholarship

To support and promote high-impact engaged scholarship, the Office of Outreach and Engagement has instituted a process to certify programs of excellence in engaged scholarship. The certification process seeks to identify and certify up to 20 projects annually that demonstrate excellence in community engaged scholarship and meet the criteria of high-impact engaged scholarship. Proposals are due Dec. 15.

Engaged Scholar Q&A: Paula Meijerink

In 2021, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture Paula Meijerink and Senior Instructor Ethan McGory developed the Trees for All People program, which is focused on socioenvironmental equity and community resilience. The team engages with the Columbus Southside community in developing green infrastructure initiatives.

Inspiring a healthy self-image in the community

Zaynah Awethe and Salma Shire, both Columbus-Athens Schweitzer Fellows and students in the College of Medicine, are partnering with Somali Community Link to raise awareness about unregulated skin-lightening products and their potential health risks.

Applications open for the Schweitzer Fellows Program

The application for the 2025-26 cohort of Columbus-Athens Albert Schweitzer Fellows is now open. The Schweitzer Fellows program supports and trains emerging health-focused graduate and professional students in creating and carrying out service projects to address unmet community needs. Applications are due Feb. 3, 2025.

More community engagement news

• Study Seeks Improvements in Drug Overdose Response for Families, Children
• College of Pharmacy receives $1.15 million grant from McKesson Foundation to launch PROPEL program
• Insights from the National Coach Survey
• Aphasia Initiative provides a community of hope

Opportunities

2024-25 Course Development Grants

The 2024-25 Community Engaged Course Development Grant application is open until 9 a.m. on Jan. 27, 2025. Any Ohio State instructor can apply for a grant of up to $4,000 to support the development of a new community engaged course or revising an existing course to include community engagement.

Care | Culture | Justice: Symposium

How do we cultivate more caring relations across differences? Across borders? Within ourselves? How might we envision more caring and just politics? Join this wide-ranging conversation on the Global Arts + Humanities Discovery Theme's 2024-25 Society of Fellows theme: CARE | CULTURE | JUSTICE. The event takes place Dec. 6.

Apply for the 2025 Hayes Forum

Graduate students are encouraged to participate in the 39th Edward F. Hayes Advanced Research Forum on Feb. 28, 2025. The Hayes Forum is an interdisciplinary event that showcases graduate student research across the full range of graduate degree programs. Cash prizes totaling more than $17,000 will be awarded to the top-judged graduate and postdoctoral presentations in each competitions academic area. The abstract submission deadline is Dec. 9.

Community Artist-in-Residence Program

The 2025 Urban Arts Space Community Artist-in-Residence Program supports community-centered arts and culture projects while recognizing outstanding local artists. This residency encourages artists to facilitate public art and collaborative experiences. The application deadline is Jan. 6, 2025.

Make connections with the Outreach and Engagement listserv

Did you know you can connect with colleagues through the Outreach and Engagement listserv? You can share your work and events, look for partnerships and much more by emailing the list at outreach@lists.osu.edu.