This year has been filled with major accomplishments and announcements in the College of Education and Human Ecology, from new program offerings to EHE students competing at the Summer Olympics in Brazil. And there were several highlights in between. Take a look back at EHE’s most memorable moments from the year and the most-read stories below.


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10. Kinesiology program ranked No. 6 in United States

EHE’s kinesiology doctoral program leaped into the top 10 best programs in the nation after the National Academy of Kinesiology released its rankings in January. The national recognition and program performance is a strong indicator of the caliber of the faculty and students in the program, said Carl Maresh, former chair of EHE’s Department of Human Sciences. Each time the academy has released rankings, the prestige and recognition of EHE’s kinesiology program has increased substantially.


9. Do reading gains in preschool stick, or fade?

Research from Associate Professor Shayne Piasta is examining the effectiveness of a supplemental literacy curriculum to help at-risk kids achieve in the classroom and close the learning gap with their peers. Piasta was awarded a $3.3-million grant to measure learning performance of 396 at-risk students, tracking their progress from kindergarten through third grade.


8. ‘STEM’ming the hate: Teaching algebra in a new way

Assistant professors Arnulfo Perez and Kathy Malone are working to help students enjoy algebra so much that they consider pursuing careers using mathematic principles. Their $1.2-million project seeks to break away from traditional teaching methods by introducing real-world applications of algebra such as computer science and electrical engineering. They hope the hands-on learning style will make algebra relevant and open a path to STEM and computer science fields.


7. Stress affects the way your body processes fat

More evidence is pointing to stress as an important factor in how your body processes fat. In a study co-authored by Martha Belury, professor of human nutrition, women who ate healthy fats but were stressed appeared to erase any benefits of their healthy choice. Stress and diet can alter inflammation in the body, which is linked to many health problems. Reduced inflammation could be the cornerstone to the benefits of eating healthful food such as the Mediterranean diet. More studies are needed to learn about these connections, but making healthy choices daily will put you in a better place when stress does arise.


6. EHE introduces two new graduate degrees

New master’s degrees in learning technologies and sports coaching were introduced autumn semester. The Master of Learning Technologies is the first completely online graduate program in EHE. It trains students to bridge the gap among all education levels by creating effective learning environments with technology. The Master of Sports Coaching offers practical and transformative learning for experienced coaches to gain new leadership abilities while challenging them to reach new levels in their careers.


5. Bischoff named Star House executive director

The nation’s only drop-in center for homeless youth hired Ann Bischoff as its new executive director in 2016. Bischoff, an EHE alumnae, began her role at Star House in April, bringing more than 15 years of experience in the nonprofit, public policy and social enterprise sectors. Her experience includes founding two mentor programs for foster care youth and advocating for a continuum of mentoring services for those who have aged out of the foster-care system.


4. EHE athletes compete in Rio Olympics

Five Olympians from EHE represented three countries in the 2016 Olympic Games in August. Three returned with medals. Kyle Snyder (sports industry) became the youngest wrestler to win gold for the United States; Michelle Williams (BS, ’14) won bronze for Canada in the 4 x 100-meter freestyle; and Nichelle Prince (sport industry) won bronze in women’s soccer representing Canada. Aina Cid Centelles (exercise science) competed in women’s pair rowing for Spain and Nate Ebner (BS, ’12) competed in rugby men’s sevens for Team USA.


3. Ohio State offers free tuition to early childhood teachers

The new Early Childhood Education Professional Preparation Pipeline program was announced in March, paving the way for 100 early childhood educators to obtain a bachelor’s degree for free. The program is a partnership among Ohio State, the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College and Action for Children. The program offers scholarships to qualifying preschool and child care teachers with an associate degree who commit to teaching in central Ohio for at least three years after graduating. The first cohort of scholars started their bachelor’s programs in August.


2. Couples who live together or marry have similar emotional benefits

Young couples get similar emotional benefits from moving in together as they do getting married. The study by co-authors Claire Kamp-Dush, associate professor of human sciences, and Sara Mernitz, a doctoral student in human sciences, suggests an evolving role of marriage among young people. This gain in emotional health isn’t limited to first relationships. The findings discovered a drop in emotional distress when young adults moved from a first relationship into cohabitation or marriage with a second partner.


1. Jarrod Barnes: PhD student, football player, paradigm changer

Jarrod Barnes is the only PhD student to ever play football for Ohio State. And at 22 years old, the Buckeyes special teams safety is looking to reverse the cultural mindset that athletes can’t excel in the classroom or off the playing field. As part of his PhD research, Barnes has developed an ambitious curriculum for high school and college athletes that has been shared with NCAA officials and is getting him interest from educators and student athlete advocates across the nation.

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