The University of Toledo

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LLSS Faculty Receive Awards
Apr 22, 2012

Kevin Czajkowski, Professor of Geography and Planning, received the UT Outstanding Researcher Award for 2012. The prestigious award recognizes significant research conducted by UT faculty.

Deborah Coulter-Harris, Lecturer in the Department of English Language and Literature, received the University of Toledo’s Outstanding Teacher Award for 2012. UT Outstanding Teachers are selected by a committee of UT instructors and a student representative, who review nominations.

Patrick Lawrence, Professor and Chair of the Department of Geography and Planning, has been selected to receive the Edith Rathbun Outreach and Engagement Excellence Award recognizes faculty for exceptional community outreach and for excellence in community-engaged scholarship, whether in research, teaching or professional service.

The awards were presented at a ceremony and reception on April 23rd at the Medical Campus Hilton.

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LLSS Alumna Wins Prestiguous Award
Mar 29, 2012

Charlotte L. Shaffer, an alumna of the Sociology Department, received the prestigious 2012 Milestone Award for Social Services presented by the YWCA of Northwest Ohio. Ms. Schaffer is the founder of the Area Office on Aging and the former Director of the Community Planning Council of Ohio. She has also served as an honorary member of the Junior League of Toledo, a board member of the Salvation Army, and President of Lutheran Social Services.

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LLSS Faculty Honored With Student Impact Awards
Dec 22, 2011

The winners of a new honor for UT teaching were announced on Friday, December 16. The Student Impact Award honorees were chosen by students to acknowledge what student government president Matt Rubin described as an "uncommon effort" and connection with their students. These are the LLSS faculty who received this award.

• Michael Dowd (Economics)
• Eleanor Dombrowski (Communication)
• Friederike Emonds (Foreign Languages – German)
• Michael Kistner (Foreign Languages – Spanish)
• Richard Knecht (Communication)
• Ron Lora (History)
• Brian Tittl (Philosophy)
• Mary Beth Schlemper (Geography and Planning)
• David Wilson (Political Science)

The college is proud of the achievements of our faculty and appreciates their dedication to teaching our UT students.

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First Class Graduates from LLSS
Dec 19, 2011

Under the new banner for the College of Languages, Literature and Social Sciences, 156 UT students received their degrees from the college at the Fall Commencement. The ceremony, held in Savage Arena on December 18th, included the commencement address by Toledo Mayor Michael Bell, a UT alumnus

Five graduate students received their doctoral degrees in Psychology. There were 29 Master of Arts, Master of Liberal Studies, and Master of Public Administrations degrees awarded. One hundred and twenty one students received their Bachelor of Arts degrees and one student received a Bachelor of Science degree.

Graduates with academic distinction were given special recognition. Anita L. Schlatter was awarded a summa cum laude degree in Spanish.
Magna Cum Laude awards were earned by Alishia Roberts and Beverly Daniel Schick (Communication), Mark A. Echhart (History), Andrea Jean Petitjean (Law and Social Thought), Lara Elise Downing (Linguistics), Allison Kathryn LaCourse, Haoxiong Li, and Amanda Stryer (Psychology), and Gabriella Lynn Pardee (Spanish).

Cum Laude graduates were Stephanie Jean Schoewe (Anthropology), Rosemary Kathryn Sorg (Asian Studies), Selina Marie Arriaga, Ryan Jeffry Bour, and Erin Nicole Geer (Communication), Amanda Gall and Hayler Wynne (English), Emma Catherine Blandford (German), Tracy Lynn Lembke (Global Studies), Autumn Noel Dominguez, Dominic J. Gentile, and Toby Rozzcipka (History), Benjamin R. Daley (Philosophy and Political Science), Selena Marie Arriaga, Sara Bates, Zachery J. Jenkins, Natalie R. Perrine, Mary Elizabeth Petersen, Mathew J. Severhof, Haichao Tian, and Caitlin B. Winn (Psychology), Haley Cook (Psychology and Religious Studies), Maria Auxiliadora Martinez (Spanish) and Mahdiyyah M. El-Amin (General Studies).

Dean Jamie Barlowe noted, “We are proud of our students in the new College of Languages, Literature and Social Sciences. We wish each of them the best success as they pursue the next phase of their lives.”

Scenes from the fall commencement can be found at http://www.utoledo.edu/commencement/index.html

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Geography and Planning Major Yujin Lee Receives Internship Award from the National Geographic Society
Dec. 14, 2011

Yujin Lee, a major in Geography and Planning in the college, has been competitive selected for a prestigious internship award with the National Geographic Society. The National Geographic Society’s internship program furnishes students with a professional learning experience through participation in projects aimed at the diffusion of geographic knowledge. During the internship Lee will have opportunities to interact with writers, photographers and explorers in Society’s various departments. The internship experience will be at the headquarters for the National Geographic Society in Washington, D. C. this summer.

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Dr. Neil Reid Named Next Director of the North American Regional Science Council
Nov. 29, 2011

Dr. Neil Reid, Associate Professor of Geography and Planning in the College of Languages, Literature and Social Sciences, has been appointed as the next Executive Director of the North American Regional Science Council (NARSC). NARSC (http://www.narsc.org/newsite/) is an interdisciplinary organization whose mission is focused on promoting the scholarly exchange of ideas and knowledge that applies to understanding the functioning of urban and regional economies in North America and across the globe.  The Council organizes an annual international conference that provides a forum for interaction and discussion. Dr. Reid will assume his responsibilities on January 1, 2013. During the upcoming twelve months he will shadow the outgoing Executive Director, Professor Jean-Claude Thill of the University of North Carolina, Charlotte.

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UT Communications Students Win Top National Award
Nov. 2, 2011

The student produced “UT: 10news” won the prestigious College Broadcasters Association National Student Production Award competition for “Best Special Broadcast.” This national competition includes the most highly ranked communication and journalism programs in the country. The winning segment “UT Myths and Legends” was produced by Ashley Karsten and directed by Christopher Mills. Nick Delwiche was the Technical Director. Diane Woodring was the Audio Director. Keith Bombrys provided Video Playback. UT ranked above Rowan TV Network Channel 5 from Rowan University, UTVS from St. Cloud State University, and Carolina Week from the University of North Carolina.

The award winning broadcast is the one of the “UT:10news” episodes created in COMM 4100 “Television Journalism” taught by Dr. Jackie Layng. The series is produced in the Department of Communication’s Media Services studio, a state of the art, high definition studio in Rocket Hall.

Visit http://www.youtube.com/ut10news#p/u/7/dHYkHNo1jqE to view the winning UT entry.

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Matt Szollosi and Jordon Urbanski Named LLSS Outstanding Alumni
Oct. 17, 2011

The first Outstanding Alumni for the College of Languages, Literature and Social Sciences have been named.

For the Humanities, our Outstanding Alumnus is State Representative Matt Szollosi. He received his B. A. in English and later graduated with his J.D. from the UT College of Law. Rep. Szollosi is serving his third term in the Ohio House of Representatives. Matt is a Partner with the law firm of D’Angelo & Szollosi Co., L.P.A. Matt has been a member of the Lucas County Children’s Services Board and served as Chairman of the Personnel Committee. Additionally, he has served as an Advisory Board member for the Little Sisters of the Poor.

For the Social Sciences, our Outstanding Alumnus is Jordon Urbanski. He received his degree in Communication and after graduation joined his family business, Urbanski and Sons. He has recently expanded his business by opening a second funeral home on Secor Road. Jordan has been very active in Toledo area politics and has served as a volunteer in numerous mayoral election campaigns.  He remains very highly involved with the Polish community of Toledo and serves voluntarily in such activities as neighborhood restoration projects.

The Outstanding Alumni nominees are recommended by their departments. The nominations were reviewed by the LLSS Alumni Affiliate who made the final decision.

They will be honored guests at the annual Homecoming Alumni Gala on October 21^st. They will also be featured in the Homecoming Parade on October 22^nd