www.wright.edu/dialogue Wright State University Theatre WINTER 2009 presents the Tony Award-nominated and Grammy Award-winning produc- tion of Smokey Joe’s Café from January 22 to February 1 in the Festival Playhouse. Read more at www.wright.edu/dialogue A NEWSLETTER FOR WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY FACULTY anD STAFF COLLABORATION Bolinga Black Cultural Resources Center Wright State to offer Ohio’s first master’s Kuumba Festival degree in renewable and clean energy WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY, the ing and the University of Dayton’s materials and mechanical engineer- University of Dayton, Central State mechanical and aerospace engi- ing at Wright State, and Kevin University and the Air Force Institute neering department. The Dayton Hallinan, chair of UD’s mechanical of Technology have joined forces to Area Graduate Studies Institute, a and aerospace engineering depart- start Ohio’s first master’s degree pro- consortium of graduate engineering ment, proposed the program to the gram in renewable and clean energy. programs, will facilitate articulation Ohio Board of Regents. Both will Students can enroll in the two-year and transfer to provide access to direct the new program and teach program on a full-time or part-time courses at all of the partner insti- classes at their respective institutions. basis. Courses will be taught by tutions. Classes will focus on the “It is very important that we Featuring faculty from the four institutions, development of energy-reducing start educating our next generation Melvin Van Peebles and students will earn a degree from design techniques, renewable of engineers in how to power our Tuesday, February 10 either Wright State or UD. energy and manufacturing systems, society, other than through the use The program will provide stu- and better forms of solar energy, of fossil fuels,” Menart said. “The 2–4 p.m. Actor’s Studio dents with knowledge of a number fuel cells and biofuels. United States has to develop a re- Segment of renewable and clean energy Potential students include pro- newable and clean energy structure 6–8 p.m. Lecture technologies such as: solar energy, fessionals looking to upgrade their to grow its economy. This program wind energy, hydropower, fuel skills, undergraduate engineering is important to the future of Ohio’s cells, hydrogen fuel, clean coal and majors, current engineering gradu- economy as it will produce tomor- For information on other nuclear energy. The new master’s ate students and international row’s trained workforce.” upcoming events, visit degree will give Ohio a supply of students. Other engineering majors Other Wright State instructors future engineers and researchers in can also benefit by taking the include Hong Huang, Amir Farajian, www.wright.edu/admin/ the critical field of energy. program’s courses as electives, Dan Young, Marian Kazimierchuk bolinga/events/ The program will operate within bringing renewable energy to and Bor Jang, dean of the univer- Wright State’s Department of related engineering disciplines. sity’s College of Engineering and Mechanical and Materials Engineer- James Menart, professor of Computer Science. PARTNERSHIP Choose Ohio First scholarships available for STEMM students SCHOLARSHIPS totaling nearly together to form the Dayton Re- In its proposal, “Growing the of Defense Base Realignment and $4 million are now available for gional Collaborative, consisting of STEMM Pipeline in the Dayton Closure Act (BRAC). graduating high school seniors and Wright State University as the lead Region—Becoming an International “In the coming years, the Day- current college students inter- organization, Central State Universi- Center of Excellence for Human Ef- ton region will need thousands of ested in pursuing careers in the ty, University of Dayton, Wittenberg fectiveness/Human Performance,” new employees to fill these and STEMM fields of science, technol- University, Clark State Community the Dayton Regional Collaborative other anticipated openings in the ogy, engineering, mathematics and College, Edison Community College, recognized the region’s need for a STEMM fields, including aerospace, medicine. Sinclair Community College and STEMM-educated workforce and information technology, advanced These competitive scholarships Southern State Community Col- requested the Choose Ohio First materials and manufacturing, and are the result of a tremendous lege, along with Wright-Patterson funding to award scholarships in human sciences and health care,” community partnership. Eight in- Air Force Base and more than 450 those areas. said President David R. Hopkins. stitutions of higher learning joined representatives from government, By 2011, more than 1,200 jobs in “Investing in people is crucial for industry and health care. the areas of human effectiveness/ our future success. These Choose performance, sensors and informa- Ohio First scholarships for students tion technology will be relocated in STEMM disciplines represent to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base higher education’s contribution to as a result of the 2005 Department the future of Ohio.” Representatives from eight universities and colleges, along with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, celebrated the launch of the Dayton Regional Collaborative Choose Ohio First scholarships totaling nearly $4 mil- lion. The scholarships are available to graduating high school seniors and current college students interested in pursuing careers in the areas of science, technology, To apply for a scholarship, go to engineering, mathematics and medicine. www.wright.edu/chooseohiofirst PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE HAPPY NEW YEAR! It is hard to remember that we are part of the believe that 2008 has come to an solution, not part of the problem. end and that 2009 is well under Higher education is the number way. How time does fly! one priority of the State of Ohio. With the sharp economic down- Our state leadership recognizes the turn, 2008 was a challenging year importance of higher education and for people throughout the Dayton how all of us can work together to region and across Ohio and the rest rebuild Ohio’s economy. of the nation. While 2009 will bring Today, we live in a knowledge- many of the same challenges, I am based economy where talent and optimistic about the future and the innovation is key to our future role Wright State University will prosperity. I recently read John play in our economic recovery. Kao’s book Innovation Nation. Kao describes how the United States is TODAY, WE LIVE IN A losing its edge in economic leader- KNOWLEDGE-BASED ship throughout the world. But more importantly, he outlines a plan for ECONOMY WHERE TALENT a national innovation strategy that AND INNOVATION IS KEY would empower the U.S. to actually TO OUR FUTURE innovate the process of innovation— to marshal our vast resources of PROSPERITY. talent and infrastructure in ways On December 19, 2008, Gov- that lead to transformative results. ernor Strickland ordered a third Wright State can be the most round of budget reductions for innovative university. Together, we fiscal year 2009. The governor took can create an environment where an extraordinary step in once again people are empowered to come up exempting from reductions our with creative ideas—a place where core funding: the State Share of people will want to come and in- Instruction (SSI), the Ohio College Provost Angle is working with be in the governor’s FY10–FY11 novate. It is this spirit of innovation Opportunity Grant (OCOG), and the our deans and vice presidents to biennial budget, to be released later that will get us through any tough Ohio Instructional Grants (OIG) for address this new challenge. Con- this month. We will continue to times that may lie ahead. students. However, a total of $25 sidering the severity of the state’s work closely with the governor and I hope 2009 brings each of you million in reductions were made to budget situation, the governor’s the chancellor, as well as our deans personal and professional fulfill- other higher education line items. continuing support for higher edu- and vice presidents, as we proceed ment. Remember, this is our time— This will result in a loss of approxi- cation is a sign of his faith in our through this budget cycle. a time to persevere, a time to hope mately $900,000 to our FY 2009 ability to help turn Ohio around. While budget cuts are always and a time to think about the budget. Certainly the greatest challenge will disheartening, it is important to future. AWARD Luehrmann receives International Education Award LAURA M. LUEHRMANN, associ- ate professor of political science Laura Luehrmann (center) receives the International Education Award from Associate and director of the international Vice President for International Affairs Stephen and comparative politics master’s Foster (left) and Wright State University Presi- program, is the 2008 recipient of dent David R. Hopkins (right). the International Education Award. President David Hopkins presented program and was selected as the Luehrmann with the award on No- program’s first director. vember 18 during an International Luehrmann teaches two general Education Week reception. education classes, which she often The International Education connects to the First Year Learning Award, now in its seventh year, Community program. Since 2004, seeks to recognize members of she has been a part of the Common the Wright State community who Text Committee, becoming a co- actively further international ef- chair of the committee in 2008. Lu- forts on campus. The award was ehrmann also