It’s officially the month of love: February.
When you’re a Buckeye, though, love isn’t just about the wonderful feelings you have for your sweetheart. It flows across campus, from the Olentangy River to Mirror Lake, from the Thompson Library to the Ohio Union, from the five regional campuses, and in and around the Ohio Stadium.
We love being Buckeyes.
It’s a love that just keeps on growing. For our students, that love flows right to the college that allows them to live their dreams: the College of Education and Human Ecology.
“We have the most outstanding students I’ve ever met,” said Cheryl Achterberg, dean of the college. “It’s because of them that our college can transform the way the nation and world lives and learns.”
This February, we invite you to learn why our students love EHE.
Leah Hoops loves the impact she has on students
As an instructor and outreach specialist in the college’s Dennis Learning Center, Leah Hoops (center) is always surrounded by Buckeyes. Her mission? To help students succeed.
As an undergraduate student at Texas A&M University, Hoops struggled. “I never studied and I very rarely went to class,” the Baytown, Texas, native said. “And it’s all because I didn’t believe in myself and my abilities.” Hoops, a PhD student in Higher Education and Student Affairs, now uses her personal story to inspire her students.
In her role at the Dennis Learning Center, she teaches workshops on self-confidence, academic skills and motivation. Her doctoral research aims to help students develop and foster their sense of belonging. “I absolutely love EHE because it empowers me to empower others,” she said.
Bridging the cultural gap through Ahmed Bramli’s love of language
Ahmed Bramli can’t get enough of foreign language. It’s not for the reason you may suspect, though. It isn’t because he loves the cool way new words sound. It’s all about the difference those words can make for our world.
“It’s about discovering a new culture,” he said. “Learning a new language helps us develop more positive attitudes toward people we might have once thought of as ‘them’ or ‘the other.’”
While growing up in Tunisia, he fell in love with French, which is his specialization as a master’s student in Foreign Language Education. It’s Bramli’s second native language after Arabic.
EHE holds a special place in his heart because it has connected him with faculty and staff who are helping to make his dreams come true. “I will always be grateful to them,” he said. “I could not imagine going through this program without their assistance.”
His dreams will take him to a French immersion school after graduation. “I would like to be an active participant in helping kids reap the benefits of learning a second language, including the cognitive and social benefits, as well as having a healthier brain.”
EHE lets Minori Minagawa run her race, at her own pace
Standing at 4’11”, Minori Minagawa is no giant, but she’s a force to be reckoned with. As a freshman, she represented the Buckeyes at the 2013 Big Ten Outdoor Cross Country Championships.
The distance runner isn’t just a standout on race day; she also excels in the classroom. The 2014 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, who maintains a 4.0 grade point average, is even known for bringing her homework to meets.
“Even though I miss class due to traveling and meets, I try to keep up with classwork by reading ahead,” the Dublin, Ohio, native said.
After she graduates, she plans to enter the physical therapy field, and EHE will help her get there. “One of the reasons I love the college is because I love my major,” said the junior majoring in Exercise Science. “All the professors really care about the students, and they want us to strive to be our best.”
Join the conversation and tell us why you love Ohio State and the College of Education and Human Ecology, by using #BuckeyeLove.
To celebrate #BuckeyeLove by giving a gift of support to a student in the College of Education and Human Ecology, please consider donating to the following funds:
- Human Ecology Alumni Scholarship Fund (601904)
- Education Alumni Scholarship Fund (601890)
- EHE Student Emergency Fund (313540)
