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EHE News

Stretching Beyond Limits

5-31-11

Faculty and staff in the College of Education and Human Ecology have a noble purpose: making certain that all babies grow and develop and learn to realize their potential to be productive adults, Dean Cheryl Achterberg asserts.

I believe the five recipients of the College of Education and Human Ecology Awards of Distinction for 2011 illustrate this concept perfectly," she said.

The college honored five faculty and staff members for their scholarship, teaching, advocacy and service at the State of the College, May 24 in Columbus. Each received a plaque and a $1,000 honorarium.

The recipients were selected by a committee of staff and faculty from nominations submitted by the college community.

Distinguished Scholarship

Amy Bonomi

Amy Bonomi, associate professor of human development and family science, has had a clear impact on the fields of family violence, public health, medicine and prevention. Her work focuses on solving the compelling problem of violence between teenagers who are dating, as well as between intimate couples. She researches the consequences of intimate partner violence and the dynamics that keep couples in violent relationships together.

"Our understanding of intimate partner violence and its effects is still in its infancy," a nominator wrote. "Dr. Bonomi has conducted some of the seminal work in this area, as well as engaged in educating the next generation of investigators, teachers, policy makers and advocates."

Her ground-breaking studies in Seattle and Columbus found 44 percent of middle class women suffer abuse during their lifetimes, victims pay 19 percent higher health care costs, and intimate partner violence is found among older women and men of all ages.

She has written 57 peer reviewed articles, including an astounding 32 since joining the HDFS faculty in 2006. They appeared in high-quality publications such as the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, the Archives of Internal Medicine and the Journal of General Medicine.

The Centers for Disease Control are among the organizations that have funded her research.

Bonomi feels it is important to interpret her findings for the public. She does so through interviews on radio and television, as well as articles in newspapers and on line.

Distinguished Teaching

Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan

Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan, associate professor of human development and family science, combines formal classroom teaching with informal instruction in the lab as well as mentoring undergraduate and graduate researchers.

Schoppe-Sullivan's classroom students have twice given her a perfect 5.0 score on the university's student evaluation form. She also goes beyond basic advising to make sure students receive experience as researchers. For graduate students, she has prepared 29 to present at national conferences, co-authored peer-reviewed papers with eight, and supervised two winners of the Hayes Graduate Research Forum.

For undergraduate students, she has mentored 11 honor student researchers and 40 other students. This year alone, she supervises 25 undergraduate research assistants who participate in three studies: the New Parents Project looking at transitions to parenthood; the Parents and Preschoolers Study of fathers' involvement; and the Family Development Project to study families over time. Her students have written 11 honors theses, presented 15 times at national or international conferences, and made 19 presentations at Ohio State's two research forums.

Nominated by her students, she received the Graduate School's Siddens Award for Distinguished Faculty Advising of Graduate Students and the Distinguished Undergraduate Research Mentor Award.

A supporter said, "Dr. Schoppe-Sullivan is the rare breed of teacher who is not only excited and enthusiastic in the classroom but is also just as dedicated to her research."

Distinguished Diversity Enhancement

Hugo Melgar-Quinoñez

Hugo Melgar-Quinoñez, associate professor of human nutrition and specialist, OSU Extension, is focused on the dangers people face if they don't have the proper food in the right amounts. His international collaboration on validating measures to determine household food security (whether families could be hungry or even starving) has been recognized by the UN.

In Ohio, he founded initiatives such as the "Healthy Latino Families" program, a cookbook, and a monthly column for the Fronteras Spanish-language publication. In addition he studies other at-risk groups, such as low-income Caucasian women and African-American children.

In the college, he participates in two multicultural scholars training programs. Recruit, Retain, Refresh, Reward (4-Rs) is a professional mentoring and personal mentoring for minority undergraduates. Students who graduated from 4-Rs now hold dietetic internships, are enrolled in nursing programs and admitted to medical school. A new partnership with Columbus State will recruit underrepresented students into human nutrition, with focus on preventing childhood obesity.

A nominator said, "Hugo's care and concern about the future success of all students is evident in his action and words."

For OSU Extension, he developed Rainbow of Colors, which enables participants to make informed choices at food pantries in Ohio and 20 other states. His diversity education courses and videos help food pantry volunteers understand their clients' beliefs and cultures.

"We are fortunate to have Dr. Melgar-Quinoñez so we can better serve the needs of diverse families and communities throughout Ohio and the nation," a colleague said.

Distinguished Service (two recipients)

Anne Smith

Anne Smith, associate professor of human nutrition and director of the didactic program in dietetics, extends her reach through service to the university, college and students. She leads the large undergraduate dietetics program but mentors students beyond the classroom. Her individualized attention includes writing more than 40 personalized letters of recommendation each year and reviewing applications for dietetic internships. A total of 69 percent of her students are matched to internships required to be a registered dietician. The national average is 52 percent.

Her reasoned manner and acceptance of input from many university voices helped defuse a highly emotional issue: Ohio State's transition from quarters to semesters. She chaired University Council on Enrollment and Student Progress while the change was being considered, then developed the final proposal accepted by the university.

A nominator said, "[As chair of the University Council on Enrollment and Student Progress], the ability of Dr. Smith to deal with this highly emotional issue in a reasoned manner and address input from different sectors of the university was a tremendous service [that] will continue to have for many years a great impact throughout our university, college and department. It is an admirable legacy."

She also took the lead in Human Nutrition's discussions of how to create a new curriculum for the department's four undergraduate majors. In addition, she entered all the necessary department data into the computer system.

Andrew Zircher

Andrew 'Andy' Zircher, Curriculum Director, has been a stalwart resource in a year full of massive changes in the college. He took over the review of 1,300 courses and oversaw their entry into the university Curriculum System. He kept faculty and staff on track during a time of intense confusion about how to frame and enter courses into the system even as OSU debugged it.

In addition, he helped faculty conceptualize – and get approval for – dozens of degree programs, minors, interdisciplinary programs and licensure areas.

Administrators report he took on the challenge of complicated cross-college curriculum collaborations, new degrees, streamlined doctoral programs and new undergrad teacher preparation programs.

"His service to both students and faculty colleagues has been nothing short of exemplary," a nominator said. "Most notable is Andy's willingness to work well beyond position description expectations, allowing faculty more time to focus on excellence in instruction and research."

The college also reconfigured its structure this year. Shifting units required high-quality, detail-oriented work, but Zircher was unfailingly accurate even when putting in 80-plus hours a week.

Before joining the central Student Services office, he was an academic advisor in the Department of Consumer Sciences. There, he had established a cohesive advising center. After moving to central administration he continued aiding Consumer Sciences.

A nominator reported, "He performed a staggering amount of work, kindly assisted faculty and staff around the college, strategized brilliantly, and did all the countless other things necessary."

The Ohio State University

www.osu.edu