September 2014

I have some very exciting news that was announced earlier in September. US News and World Report has again ranked Bowling Green State University in the top 100 public universities in the country. That also places BGSU as the highest ranked public university in northern Ohio!

Fall is always full of campus events for students, but also for alumni and friends. In just a few days we’ll be celebrating Homecoming 2014, “Once a Falcon, Always a Falcon.” I hope you will join us for the parade, football game and many of the other activities that are planned for this weekend.

It is during this time that we also honor those inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Alumni, the highest honor bestowed by the University. It recognizes the extraordinary accomplishments of alumni who have significant contributions to their chosen professional field and/or through their community involvement. This year’s honorees are Chuck Bogosta ’81, John Damonti ’82, Alicia Fernandez-Mott ’82, and Gary Kovacs ’69.

It was my honor earlier in September to present the 2014 BGSU State of the University Address. It was an opportunity to revisit the successes of the past year, but more importantly, to lay out the vision for the future to continue making BGSU a first class university. One area I continue to stress is partnerships. We have a great article in the last issue of BGSU Magazine about one of those partnerships with Cedar Fair Properties to develop a staff training module.

This year, we again had a fantastic STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) in the Park Day last weekend, with about 4,000 attendees. It is always so much fun to see community families coming to our Bowling Green campus to hear from our faculty, staff and students about our projects and participate in hands-on STEM activities.

Another big event planned for Oct. 17-18, is the Legacy Weekend, to celebrate the founding of the Falcon Club and the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame, as well honor our Heritage Sports.

BGSU continues to provide our students with the most up-to-date facilities and programs possible. Just today, I participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new $15.75 million Allied Health and Sciences Project at our Firelands campus, along with U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Rep. Chris Redfern and Ohio Senator Randy Gardner. Earlier this month, I joined Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine in welcoming Dr. Jon Sprague to our campus as the first director of the Ohio Attorney General’s Center for the Future of Forensic Science. This center will provide a unique experience to our students giving them a distinct advantage in the marketplace.

If you are on campus in the coming months, please consider attending some of our Arts events. With all of the plays, concerts and other performances, there is bound to be something that will capture your imagination.

Mary Ellen Mazey, Ph.D.
President