2013-2014: The Year In Review — Pages 35 — 42 Rio Baseball Tops Rio Student Accepted Ohio University Into Mayo Clinic’s In Close Radiation Therapy Game Signals School — Page 4 — Page 28 University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College Rio Grande, Ohio April/May 2014 Number 9 Justice French To Address Rio’s 2014 Graduates Commencement Ceremonies Scheduled For Saturday, May 10 By BECCA STEINER (University President) Dr. Danley Signals Editor asked if I would be the commence- “Don’t be afraid … In the long run, ment speaker for this year,” Justice a mistake is a learning experience,” French said in a telephone interview. this is a mes- Commencement exercises are sage Ohio scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on the Supreme campus green. Court Justice The daughter of a school teacher, Judith French Justice French said she appreciates says is im- her Ohio roots and education, and is portant for committed to being a part of civic 2014 Commencement students to education in Ohio. Information — Page 43 understand. For the past two decades, Justice Justice French has dedicated her career to File Photo: 2013 Rio Grande Commencement French, who public service. In that time, she has THE UNIVERSITY OF RIO GRANDE and Rio Grande Community will serve as served the State of Ohio as a lawyer College 2014 commencement is scheduled for Saturday, May 10, at 1 p.m. Ohio Supreme Court commence- for a state agency, an assistant attor- on the campus green. Ohio Supreme Court Justice Judith French will Justice Judith French ment speaker ney general, counsel to the Governor, serve as commencement speaker. for the Uni- and, now, as a supreme court justice. versity of Rio Grande and Rio “Don’t be afraid, I regret all of the years of public service. As an attorney, she served as a tutor Grande Community College gradua- times that I was afraid and didn’t do Having learned from so many tal- and mentor in the Columbus Public tion exercises on Saturday, May 10, something. In the long run a mistake ented teachers and professors, Justice Schools. As a justice, she speaks fre- became a justice of the Supreme is a learning experience,” Justice French said she is dedicated to serv- quently to students from around Court of Ohio on January 13, 2013. French said in summarizing the ing as a resource to them and their Ohio, particularly those studying the “I was very excited to say yes when knowledge she has gained from her students. (Continued On Page 2) Dr. Richard Sax: ‘We Are Here For The Students’ New Provost, Vice President Of Academic Affairs Discusses His Views Of Higher Education By BECCA STEINER here for the students.” said he will have an “Open Office/ leader among Signals Editor Dr. Richard Sax, whose appoint- Door Policy,”: if the door is open, equals.” “We are here for the students,” Rio ment to his new post was announced you may stop in and speak to him, or “Dr. Sax Grande’s new Provost and Vice Pres- in late February, is scheduled to start ask him a question. comes to Rio ident of Academic Affairs said in a on July 7. Although, the protocols in the stu- with a proven recent interview. “The institution is During an April 9 telephone inter- dent handbook need to be followed, record of aca- view, Dr. Sax said he viewed aca- he said, “If I am there, I will listen.” demic leadership experience having demic administration as, “… Dr. Sax said he is “not the boss of served in positions of increasing re- Dr. Richard Sax extremely important, just as im- you, but a leader among equals.” He sponsibility and complexity over a Educational portant as working collaboratively also proposed several initiatives to course of nearly 25 years,” a state- Degrees with others.” help boost student morale on campus, ment issued by Rio Grande’s Human BA, Haverford Dr. Sax became aware of the posi- including: Resource Department said in an- College; MA, PhD. tion at The University of Rio Grande Have end of term Student To Pro- nouncing his appointment. The University of through a higher education weekly fessor evaluations; “This includes serving as Honors Michigan, Ann Ar- newsletter. “I have worked at four Have an active student govern- Program Director, English Depart- bor. institutions in the last 30 years,” he ment; ment Chair, twice as an academic Biographical said. Make sure the leaders of each or- dean, and twice as a chief academic Statement One goal Dr. Sax said he would ganization speak with one another officer. He currently serves as Dean Dr. Sax has served like to accomplish at Rio Grande is to so that the groups may all work of Instruction and Chief Academic as Dean of the College of Arts & raise the overall morale of the aca- together. Officer at the University of New Humanities at Madonna Universi- demic body: students, faculty, staff “We are a tribe that works togeth- Mexico-Valencia Campus in Los Lu- ty, Dean of the School of Arts, and administration.” er,” said Dr. Sax, “my fascination for nas, New Mexico.” Humanities, & Social Sciences at He also said “I would like to help the institution goes back to Oxford Sax received a Bachelor of Arts in Fort Lewis College, and as Vice accomplish the goal of having a sus- and Cambridge, and it is incredible to English from Haverford College, a President of Academic Affairs & tainable enrollment rate … and grad- be a part of the fascinating operation. Master of Arts in English Language Dean of the College at Lake Erie uation rate, as well.” “Sharing experiences is important. & Literature and a Doctorate of Phi- College. Dr. Sax described himself as being, When I was in high school, my buddy losophy in English Language& Liter- He comes to Rio Grande from “…like Atticus Finch from To Kill A and I loved going to political cam- ature from the University of Michi- the University of New Mexico, Mockingbird.” Referencing a scene in paigns, setting up for events in order gan. where he serves as Dean of In- the book in which Finch is spat upon, to know all that was going on. In his role as Provost and Vice struction and Chief Academic Of- he said, “It is good to be like Atticus “When I got to college I fell in President of Academic Affairs, Sax ficer at the UNW-Valencia Cam- Finch, wipe it [the problem] off and love with literature, and since then I will provide leadership in the devel- pus in Los Lunas, New Mexico. do the right thing.” have wanted to take part in institu- opment, assessment, budgeting and Upon his arrival in July, Dr. Sax tions of higher education and be a oversight of all academic initiatives. Rio Grande, Ohio April/May 2014; Number 9 Page 2 Campus News Justice French To Address Rio’s 2014 Graduates (Continued From Page 1) From 2002 to 2004, Justice French She began her career Ohio judicial system. served as chief legal counsel to Gov- as an attorney with the During her first year as justice on ernor Bob Taft. In that role, she Columbus law firm of Ohio’s highest court, she has partici- served as the chair of the Sex Offend- Porter, Wright, Morris pated in hundreds of decisions. She er Registration and Notification Task & Arthur, specializing also found time to travel the State of Force, which made recommendations in environmental law. Ohio, visiting all 88 counties. With a to the legislature for making Ohio’s Justice French also history of public service, Justice sex-offender laws more effective. served as in-house French is committed to serving as a In 2004, Justice French was elected counsel for a large resource for the people of Ohio. as a judge on the Tenth District Court manufacturing compa- A History of Public Service of Appeals, which hears appeals from ny. In 1993, Justice French joined the Franklin County courts and state ad- In 2004, Justice Ohio Environmental Protection ministrative agencies. While a judge French was recognized Agency as deputy director for legal on the court of appeals for eight as a “Super Lawyer.” affairs. From 1997 to 2002, she years, she authored more than 800 A Commitment OHIO GOVERNOR JOHN KASICH, right, ap- worked for Attorney General Betty legal opinions. to Education pointed Justice French to fill a vacancy on the Su- Montgomery as an assistant attorney In December 2012, Governor John Justice French grew preme Court of Ohio in December 2012. She be- general, and later as chief counsel. Kasich appointed her to fill a vacancy up in Sebring, Ohio, a came the 155th justice of the Ohio Supreme Court During her time in the Attorney on the Supreme Court of Ohio. She small town in Mahon- on January 1, 2013. General’s Office, Justice French ar- became the 155th justice of the Ohio ing County. She gradu- gued two cases before the United Supreme Court on January 1, 2013. ated from Sebring McKinley High ies), and a J.D., with honors. She cur- States Supreme Court. One of those A Wide Breadth of Legal Experience School in 1980, when she started her rently serves her alma mater as a cases was the Cleveland School Although her two decades of public undergraduate studies at The Ohio member of the Moritz College of Vouchers case, in which she served service are critical to her understand- State University. Law National Council. as lead counsel. Her successful ing of state laws and the Ohio judicial She received three degrees from Justice Judi French currently resides presentation of the state’s position system, Justice French said she also OSU: a B.A.