The Rogers Report August 2018

It's the beginning of a new academic year, a new start for our students. The fall semester brings new courses and opportunities to get involved and stand out. My message to our undergraduate and graduate students is simple: Your time here is where you can be your true self, take control of your destiny and take advantage of all we offer to help you succeed and go far.

Our learning community is designed to support our students every step of the way. I hope you join our faculty and staff in that commitment – it's on us to help ensure tomorrow's graduates can achieve their dreams.

In the coming weeks, I will be reaching out asking for your thoughts as we reimagine the University's strategic plan. In my first Rogers Report email to you, I mentioned that I want this email format to be a dialogue. I count on your feedback as we chart our path forward for the next five years.

Until then, enjoy some of my favorite stories and highlights from this past month!

Regards,

Rodney K. Rogers, Ph.D. '81
President
Bowling Green State University

Do you remember what it was like to move in to your campus residence hall, as a new student and then as a returning student? Those are exciting moments for students and their families. In this month's video, we capture the 2018 Move-In experience as we welcome the Class of 2022. We are happy to see campus alive with students again!

Plans are shaping up for this year's Homecoming in October, one of my favorite BGSU traditions. We have our signature events, such as the parade and the football game, plus some new ones that showcase other aspects of our Falcon Family. This year will also be special as we break ground on the new College of Business building, the Robert W. and Patricia A. Maurer Center, and host a Celebration of Philanthropy to recognize our alumni and donors for their support in helping us change lives for the world. I hope to see you back!

Graduate student Josephine Lindsey-Robbins is researching the role of "bugs" in composting dead plant material. Her study is one of the first steps toward taking advantage of soil invertebrate action to preserve freshwater ecosystems. Her master's project serves the public interest and has the potential to make a direct impact on our communities.

Kate Achter, Liz Honegger, Kory Lichtensteiger, John Smith and Dr. Ron Zwierlein will make up the 52nd BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame class, marking a total of 240 individuals to receive this honor. This year's inductees have sport and athletic experience, including women's basketball, track and field, wrestling and men's swimming; Dr. Zwierlein is even a former BGSU athletics director. All were outstanding student-athletes whose accomplishments are second to none!

Our faculty continue to inform public debate through their research and engagement. Dr. Dan Pavuk, in the Department of Biological Sciences, is collaborating with state officials to trap mosquitos in order to determine the diseases they harbor that pose a public health threat. In this project, he is mentoring three undergraduate student researchers who are gaining valuable research exposure. As a comprehensive public research university, these academic experiences better position our students and raise awareness of the importance of faculty research.