Perspectives
The University of Toledo has partnered with The Blade on a new thought leadership
series. The free, public events welcome the community to UToledo’s campus and provide
an opportunity to highlight UToledo faculty and leaders in engaging discussions on
important topics.
Moderated by David Shribman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning, nationally syndicated columnist and executive editor emeritus of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the panel discussions take place in UToledo’s historic Doermann Theatre on Main Campus.
March 24, 2025
Perspectives: The Mental Health Crisis Among Young People
A panel discussion on the concerning rates of anxiety and depression among young people. UToledo Board of Trustees Chair Patrick J. Kenney provided opening remarks.
The panel discussion featured:
- Jenny Karlen Elliott, head of student and academic life at the private boarding and day school Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut.
- Kamala London, who as professor and chair of the UToledo Department of Psychology studies how children and adolescents are handled in the justice system and how social anxiety and other factors affect memory in children.
- Michael Rich, founder and director of the Digital Wellness Lab that promotes positive and healthy digital media experiences for young people.
- Kevin Stevens, a former professional hockey player and co-founder of the foundation Power Forward
to combat addiction through education, de-stigmatizing and recovery programs.
Feb. 3, 2025
Perspectives: The Cultural and Economic Impact of Sports
A panel discussion on the cultural and economic impacts of sports. UToledo Athletic Director Bryan Blair provided welcome remarks.
The panel discussion featured:
- Nick Lowery, the retired NFL kicker who was inducted into the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2009. Lowery is now a motivational speaker who works to end bullying and homelessness.
- Andrew Luck, the star NFL quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts between 2012 and 2018. Luck is now the football general manager at Stanford University, where he had a record-setting collegiate career.
- Peter Roby, who draws on experience as an athlete, coach, sports marketing executive and athletics director in his current role as senior consultant to the NCAA.
- Steve K. Stoute, president of Canisius University and a member of the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics. Stoute previously served as the assistant director of the Princeton Varsity Club at Princeton University as well as in the Department of Athletics at the University of Southern California.
Dec. 3, 2025
Perspectives: Exploring Leadership in Today’s World
A panel discussion on modern leadership kicked off the Perspectives thought leadership series. Imran Ali, dean of the UToledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, provided welcome remarks.
The panel discussion featured:
- Jean Becker, who served as chief of staff for George H.W. Bush and as deputy press secretary to First Lady Barbara Bush. Becker is the author of the recently released book “Character Matters: And Other Life Lessons from George H.W. Bush.”
- Jackie Calmes, an opinion columnist and former White House editor at the Los Angeles Times who previously served as chief political and chief economic correspondent at The New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Calmes is an alumna of UToledo.
- Andrew Card, who served as White House chief of staff and head of White House Iraq Group under George W. Bush and as secretary of transportation under George H.W. Bush.
- Marc Garneau, a former astronaut, retired Royal Canadian Navy officer and retired member of Canadian Parliament who served as cabinet minister from 2015 to 2021.