Ohio State Engages September 2025 Newsletter

Colleagues,

As autumn semester moves along, we're excited to share stories that highlight the incredible work happening in our communities on campus and beyond.

August featured two Ohio State engagements with the Columbus Metropolitan Club (CMC); Executive Vice President and Provost Ravi Bellamkonda introduced the CMC forum on Central Ohios AI Revolution and President Walter "Ted" Carter Jr. was featured in a special CMC event on the future of higher education, held at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum.

Additionally, our Engaged Scholars Academy has begun, with our inaugural cohort meeting to learn about the state of the nonprofit sector from Michael Corey, executive director of the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County.

We also have an exciting opportunity for graduate students this autumn. We recently announced this years engaged graduate student research poster competition. Please see more details later in the newsletter.

Finally, be on the lookout for upcoming announcements on applications opening for the University Outreach and Engagement Awards in early October and the Outreach and Engagement Grants program in early November.

I wish everyone a great autumn semester.

Sincerely,

Jason Reece
Vice Provost for Engaged Scholarship and
Community Engagement
Office of Academic Affairs

Engaged Scholars Academy inaugural cohort

The 16 members of the inaugural Engaged Scholars Academy met for the first time in August. The academy is a one-year leadership and professional development initiative that supports faculty at the ranks of assistant and associate professor in strengthening their engaged scholarship.

Outreach and Engagement Graduate Student Poster Competition call for proposals

Proposals are now being accepted for the 2025 Outreach and Engagement Graduate Student Poster Competition. Professional development stipends will be awarded to the top three posters. Proposals are due Oct. 1.

Engaged Scholar Q&A: Patrick Sours

"In Humanitarian Engineering, we aim to educate engineers and scientists to address complex societal challenges," said Patrick Sours, faculty lead of the Humanitarian Engineering Program. "To fully grasp these intricacies, the voices and perspectives of those impacted must be heard, and their values must be considered throughout the design process."

Banner earns national award from the Engagement Scholarship Consortium

Terron Banner, director of the Urban Arts Space, has been named the 2025 recipient of the Excellence in Outreach and Engagement Professional Engagement Award from the Engagement Scholarship Consortium (ESC). He will receive his award at ESC's annual conference in October.

Meet the Outreach and Engagement Advisory Council

The Outreach and Engagement Advisory Council brings together engagement leaders from each college and the Wexner Medical Center to foster collaboration, share best practices and advance strategic outreach initiatives across the university. This cross-disciplinary group serves as a hub for aligning efforts, amplifying impact and ensuring that our engagement work reflects the diverse strengths and priorities of our academic units.

Make your 2025 Buckeyes for Charity pledge today!

Buckeyes for Charity is your opportunity to donate to community organizations and make a difference. This years campaign includes nearly 700 nonprofits from across Ohio, giving us a chance to make an impact throughout the state. You can donate to a meaningful cause via credit card, check, cash or payroll deduction and choose to make a one-time or recurring donation. Donate by Nov. 3.

More community engagement news

• For Ohioans: Bridging tech gaps one child at a time
• For Ohioans: Building the future, one engineer at a time
• Ohio State helps bring inclusive playground to life in Noble County
• OSEP awards to increase access to research for undergraduates, improve soil health
• Buckeyes in Action: Supporting dementia caregivers

Opportunities

Engaged Scholars and Practitioners Community of Practice: Oct. 24

The Engaged Scholars and Practitioners Community of Practice is intended for faculty and staff whose scholarship and outreach connect the universitys resources to pressing social, civic, and ethical challenges. The next meeting will take place Oct. 24 from 10-11 a.m. via Zoom.

Graduate Student Community of Practice on Engaged Scholarship: Oct. 13

The Engaged Scholars Graduate Student Community of Practice is a dedicated space for graduate students actively involved in engaged scholarship. Designed to foster connection, collaboration and mutual learning, this community brings together students across disciplines to share experiences, exchange ideas, and support one another in their scholarly journeys. The next meeting will take place Oct. 13 from 4-5 p.m. via Zoom.

Student sustainability competition: Smart Campus Challenge

Graduate and undergraduate student teams are encouraged to propose sustainability projects in the Smart Campus Challenge. Selected teams will then pitch their projects to a panel of judges for up to $60,000 in project funding and a trip to Paris for ENGIE Innovation Week. ENGIE, Ohio States energy utility partner, is once again offering this competition program to support student-led projects that will advance the universitys resource stewardship sustainability goals. Proposal submissions are due Nov. 14.

Register for the 2025 Engagement Scholarship Consortium Conference

The 2025 Engagement Scholarship Consortium Conference (ESC) will take place Oct. 8-9 in Roanoke, Virginia. This year's conference theme is "Bridging Resources to Build Stronger Communities." The 2025 ESC Conference will be a place for engaging conversations about the many ways that we work collectively to bridge the resources of our universities and communities, strengthening us all. The registration deadline is Sept. 22. Ohio State is a member of ESC.

Outreach and Engagement Practitioners Network Workshop (ESC pre-conference event)

This workshop, taking place Oct. 6-7, is an invitation to pause, reflect and realign your professional practice with the deeper why behind community-engaged scholarship and outreach. Together, well explore how reconnecting with core values can strengthen our ability to navigate complexity, foster civic responsibility and inspire meaningful action for the public good. This Outreach and Engagement Practitioners Network (OEPN) workshop is a pre-conference option as part of the Engagement Scholarship Consortiums 2025 conference. OEPN is a community of practice for university staff, non-tenure-track faculty and community partners.

AI courses for small business owners

Ohio States Professional and Continuing Education is helping Ohio small business owners turn AI curiosity into practical skills with short, impactful online courses. Both courses are fully online, affordable and focused on solutions professionals can apply right away.

• Introduction to Generative AI Learn how tools like ChatGPT can streamline tasks, improve workflows and support smarter decision making. No technical background required.
• AI for Small Business: Customer Success Discover how AI can create engaging content, analyze trends and boost customer satisfaction with less effort and more impact.

Participate in The Big Table: Oct. 21

The Big Table is an annualcommunity-widedayofconversation designed to inspire civic engagement and connection. This year, we invite you to take part in a Big Table conversation happening throughout our community. You can find a location at the link below.

WestFest, Ohio State's science and sustainability festival: Oct. 25

WestFest, Ohio State's science and sustainability festival, will take place on Oct. 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event offers free admission and parking, features family friendly STEM activities, academic building tours, prizes and food trucks! This is the perfect educational opportunity for kids K-12 to learn about various STEM topics in an engaging way!

CTSI Spark Awards available

Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Spark Awards are designed to support preliminary research and generate essential data for new and ongoing projects. Spark Awards provide investigators with resources to advance their research, aiming to jump-start pilot studies and support future extramural grant applications or scientific initiatives. Applications will be received through March 15, 2026, or until designated funds are exhausted.

2025 International Photography Competition now open

All Ohio State students, faculty, staff, visiting scholars and alumni are invited to submit their photos to the 2025 International Photography Competition. Entries will be accepted through Sept. 22. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your original photographs from around the world.

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.