|
A Letter from Our Acting Executive Director
|
|
We hope you enjoyed our first newsletter and are grateful to our student interns, for all their work on the inaugural issue. We received feedback from many of you on the newsletter, suggestions for future issues and requests to use alternative email addresses. Please keep your responses coming, both positive comments, and ways we can improve.
We are proud to highlight Emerita Kristi Nelson in our
Second Act
series. She has graciously come out of retirement to serve as Interim Provost. We congratulate Kristi and recognize what an excellent choice she is for this position.
In September, we were pleased to welcome President Pinto as our first speaker for the Luncheon Speaker Series and in October, we were graced with a presentation from Dr. Robert Brackenbury on gene editing with CRISPR. Synopses of their presentations are featured within this issue.
We will be highlighting some of our committees in each newsletter. In September, we featured articles on the Health and Wellness Committee, the Emeriti Community Service Corps, and the Committee on Mentoring. This month we provide information on the Transition to Retirement Committee, and the UC Woman’s Club. If you would like to serve on these committees, or any other committee, please let us know. The list of current committees is on our website or you may reach out to us via our contact information under the Contact Us tab on our website. Feel free to also use this section to provide feedback on the newsletter, website, events, activities, suggestions, or general questions and inquiries.
Recently, we had a productive meeting with Provost Nelson, who has shown great support for the Emeriti Association and our efforts to develop an Emeriti Center. Carl Huether will speak more on this in his letter below.
Many thanks to Carl Huether and Wayne Hall for their assistance in proofing and editing this issue.
We hope you enjoy this autumn season, wherever you may be!
Pat Mezinskis
Acting Executive Director
Emeriti Center
Professor Emerita of Nursing
University of Cincinnati - Blue Ash
|
|
|
A Letter from Our President
|
The timing of this issue could not be better as I want to use this space to inform you on the results of a meeting Pat and I had recently with the Interim Provost, Kristi Nelson, and Vice Provost, Matt Serra. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the continuation of Pat’s part-time position as Executive Director of the Emeriti Center, and Provost Nelson could not have been more supportive of our request. We had requested increased support for Pat through fiscal year 2018, ending Jun. 30, 2018. Provost Nelson fully accepted our recommendation and the Emeriti budget for FY2018 has now increased from $20,000 to $38,000, and includes increased support for hiring part-time students to work with us on the newsletter and web page.
Additionally, Provost discussed bringing on a part-time Provost Fellow to fill the Executive Director role, at the conclusion of Pat’s contract, for a three-year term. This individual would be a senior member of the faculty who may be relatively close to retirement and desiring to move in this direction before formally gaining emeritus status. They would continue their position in their academic unit while spending half of their time helping the Emeriti Board oversee the many activities in which emeriti are now engaged, and creating new opportunities.
This is consistent with our long-term goals, and follows the same model being used in Emeritus Colleges at Emory University, Clemson University, Arizona State University, the University of Southern California and I suspect others as well. This ties us closely to the Provost’s Office, exactly where we wish to be for the foreseeable future, and assures a long-term commitment of meaningful support from the Provost’s Office. Look for more conclusive information regarding these changes and improvements in the January newsletter.
The Emeriti Board is delighted with this level of support from Provost Nelson and is mindful of the considerable efforts the Office of the Provost has provided the past four and a half years to help make this happen, along with our strong communications with President Pinto over the past several months.
Congratulations to all the emeriti who have helped get us to this level, which will now allow us to have a better relationship with the university.
Carl Huether, President
Emeriti Association
Professor Emeritus of Biology
University of Cincinnati
|
|
|
|
|
In This Issue
A Brief Recap of Our Luncheon Speaker Series Events
Welcome to New Members
Upcoming Events from the UC Woman's Club
Second Act
Upcoming Events
A Word from the Transition to Retirement Committee
Hear from Dr. Raj Mehta on Visiting Scholar Opportunities
In Memorium
This Month in UC History
|
|
|
A Brief Recap of Our Luncheon Speaker Series Events
|
|
|
September
President Neville Pinto
UC President Neville Pinto was the first speaker in the Emeriti Association’s Luncheon Speaker Series this year. On Sep. 21, he addressed 40 emeriti and full time faculty members. President Pinto spoke of his strategic direction for the university beginning with “unleashing our vision of
Leading Urban Public Universities into a New Era of Impact.” As part of his Strategic Direction, President Pinto discussed
"Platforms and Pathways of
Academic Excellence," "Urban Impact" and his
"Innovation Agenda", which will help make sure our university
is sustained into the next century
. In an effort to gain input from faculty, staff and students, President Pinto held four information sessions across UC campuses this fall. More information about the framework for the Strategic Direction, is
available online.
October
Dr. Robert Brackenbury
As the second speaker in the Luncheon Speaker Series, Dr. Robert Brackenbury pulled from his rich medical and scientific background to inform emeriti about the innovations and discoveries taking place in the field of gene editing.
Gene editing is the process through which specific changes are made to the sequence of DNA. For quite some time, it has been known that diseases such as cystic fibrosis and Tay-Sachs, are caused by mutations, rare changes in the DNA sequence that are induced by toxic chemicals or radiation. Even variant DNA sequences, which are more common than mutations, can increase the risk of developing conditions such as Alzheimer’s, heart disease and diabetes.
Gene therapy, a practice which dates back to the 1980’s, made attempts at treating some of these diseases. This approach had many technical limitations, serious side effects, and few successes. In the last 3 years, the field has been revolutionized by the discovery and rapid development of gene editing, using a system called CRISPR/Cas, which is based on a natural defense system found in bacteria. CRISPR/Cas makes it possible to "correct" specific DNA sequences rapidly, accurately and inexpensively. Gene editing by CRISPR/Cas is now being used widely in research, with spectacular results, however, controversies have arisen. There is widespread agreement that the public, along with physicians and scientists, must participate in decision-making about which uses of gene editing should be allowed.
Future Events in the Luncheon Speaker Series
Jan. 25
David Meyer
“Global Change on Coral Reefs: A Personal 50-Year Perspective”
During my 50-year career as a paleobiologist, David Meyer has been privileged to conduct research on coral reefs around the world using SCUBA diving. He has witnessed profound changes in coral reef life attributed to hurricanes, mass mortalities, coral bleaching, and invasive species. This presentation is a personal record of these changes using Meyer's own underwater photos and research results from the Caribbean (Curaçao, Bonaire, Jamaica, Bahamas, Cuba) and the Pacific. Meyer will explain how many of these changes are related to global environmental change caused by human activity.
Feb. 22
Hospice of Cincinnati
Barbara Rose MPH, RN (Senior Project Administrator, Community Programs: Conversations of a Lifetime & PalliaCare Cincinnati)
Janet Montgomery BSN, MBA (Chief Marketing Officer)
The Hospice of today: Conversation Ready. What is advance care planning?
Join Barbara Rose and Janet Montgomery from Hospice of Cincinnati to learn about and explore advance care planning conversations, the importance of advance directives and understanding how personal values influence end of life care planning decisions.
|
|
|
Effective Mar. 2 through Oct. 1, 2017
|
|
|
Nancy Batchelor
David Bernstein
Phyllis Breen
Robert Brinkmeyer
Patricia Carey
Charles Casey-Leininger
Edmund Choi
Kimberly de Acha
Wendy Eisner
Peggy Elgas
Oscar Fernandez
Fred Finkelman
Lee Fiser
Patricia Graman
Mary Henderson-Stucky
J. Lawrence Houk
Debra Howard
Elizabeth Jackson
Susan Jacobs
Patricia James
|
|
|
Edna Kaneshiro
Jennifer Kelley
Young Kim
Robert Krikorian
Ben Terry Lusk
Ardythe Morrow
Rino Munda
Lorna Newman
Bea Opengart
Allen Otte
Suzanne Perraud
Max Reif
Beverly Reigle
Steven Rogstad
Robert Rost
Frederick Ryckman
Jodi Shann
Patrick Snadon
Glenn Talaska
Lawson Wulsin
|
|
|
Upcoming Events from the UC Woman's Club
|
|
About the UC Woman's Club:
The Woman’s Club of the University of Cincinnati is a thriving, 92 year-old organization open to faculty members, emeriti, administrators, staff members, and other interested individuals. Ten Interest Circles of the Club meet regularly and enjoy wide attendance. Well-known speakers, at monthly programs, discuss actual cultural, political, and societal questions. The Club has a large Scholarship Fund, which awards several scholarships to deserving woman students every year.
|
|
Calendar of Events
Wednesday, Nov. 8
Gerald Checco, Director of the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati “What’s the Green solution for MSD?” Sewers are good news!
Introduced by Kay Wagner
The Cincinnati Woman’s Club, 330 Lafayette Ave, Cinti, Oh 45220
Registration 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 3
Julie L Arostegui, J.D. M.A.
“Strength and Hope in the Midst of Conflict: Working with Syrian Human Rights Defenders”
Introduced by Sandy Leftwich.
TUC 400 A
Registration 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 7
Dr. Leo Bradley, newly retired head of Xavier’s Dept. of Educational Administration
“Music Man”
He will discuss what goes into songwriting , where he gets his inspiration, share some of his recordings and strum his guitar for a song or two.
Introduced by Mary Pat Latham
TUC 400 A
Registration 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Mar. 7
Jennifer Malat, Associate Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences
“The Cincinnati Project: Working for Equity in Cincinnati Through Research”
Introduced by Carol Tonge
TUC 400
Registration 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Apr. 4
Clyde Gray, former Cincinnati Newscaster
“Breaking News, Faking news and why I left the anchor desk after 37 years”
Introduced by Tari Carrelli
The Cincinnati Woman’s Club 330 Lafayette Ave., Cincinnati, Oh 45220 Registration 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 2
Details TBD
For more information on all events and activities from the UC Woman's Club, please visit
their website.
|
|
|
|
Second Act
with Kristi Nelson
|
|
|
They have retired from a career, not life.
|
|
|
Kristi Nelson had barely settled into retirement when the phone rang calling her back to the University of Cincinnati.
|
|
|
University Honors students from the course Art, Architecture and Engineering: The Roman Experience taught by Provost Nelson, Dr. Gian Rassati and Dr. Jim Swanson (not pictured) visiting Italy in Spring 2016.
|
|
|
On a Friday morning in early October, the paint is just beginning to dry on the walls of Kristi Nelson’s new office in Van Wormer Hall just a short walk from the College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning (DAAP) where she began her career. In 1979. Kristi took on her first role at the university as an assistant professor in DAAP teaching various sections of the three-part survey class required of all art history students. With a background in Dutch and Flemish art, she was also able to teach several specialty courses in her area of expertise as well as those a little outside of her comfort zone such as history of printmaking.
Like many others, she worked her way through the ranks moving in an upward trajectory until she became Associate Dean of DAAP. She wouldn’t serve here long as a short time later she moved into the role of Senior Vice Provost of Academic Affairs. In this role, she oversaw the restructuring of many of the university’s colleges as well as the university semester conversion. This position would pull her in many different directions as she moved throughout the university serving as Interim Dean of the College of Nursing and the College of Arts & Sciences. It was also in this role where she first worked alongside future university president, Neville Pinto.
Despite her many adventures at the university and the challenges each role brought and the contributions she was able to make, in June of 2015, Kristi finally decided it was time to retire. But, she did not slow down.
Kristi’s love of and dedication to art continued into retirement as she worked with the Cincinnati Art Museum to curate one of the most attended exhibitions of the year in 2016. The exhibit allowed Kristi to work alongside many members of the art community both locally and internationally as the exhibit brought works to Cincinnati from Asia and Europe.
|
|
Kristi herself did not limit her retirement to the tri-state area, as she did ample travel with her husband in Europe and other regions around the globe. No matter where her travels took her, however, the university always drew her back as she returned to teach a seminar for the University Honors Program in 2016, shortly after retiring.
Working alongside faculty from several different disciplines at UC, she taught students from across the university taking them on a culturally and artistically rich study abroad program to Rome. Although she had traveled to Rome and Italy many times in the past, Kristi’s students allowed her to witness many of Rome’s great landmarks through fresh eyes. Students’ first visits to the Vatican Museum, the Colosseum and the Parthenon formed many of Kristi’s most memorable moments.
Although the course may have been a temporary return to the university, a call in August drew Kristi back for a more long-term period. A call from President Pinto was all it took to bring Kristi back to the Provost’s office as she works to aid in the president’s transition period and to implement his
new strategic direction. Although the length of her tenure as Interim Provost is uncertain, Kristi is glad to be back and to work alongside President Pinto once more.
For now, though, Kristi does not have any post post-retirement plans but she looks forward to immersing herself in the art community and continuing her travels once her time as Interim Provost is complete. Although maintaining such a full schedule in retirement, as Kristi has done, may seem exhausting, she feels it is important for emeriti to remain engaged: with the university, with the community and with their own personal passions.
|
|
|
Interim Provost, Kristi Nelson, pictured with her husband, artist, Stewart Goldman on a recent trip to Italy.
|
|
|
Do you happen to be in the middle of your own Second (or third) Act?
Email us
to let us know and you may find your story in a future newsletter.
|
|
 |
|
Friday, Nov. 10, 12 p.m.
Dec. 2 - 3, 2 & 5 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 15, 8:30 a.m.
|
|
|
|
|
Thursday, Nov. 30
- Lunch & Learn with Dr. Raj Mehta. Registration available through Nov. 24.
Thursday, Jan. 25
- Luncheon Speaker Series with David Meyer. Registration now available.
|
|
|
|
|
A Word from the Transition to Retirement Committee
|
|
|
Coming to a luncheon program and hanging out with fellow emeriti are enjoyable reasons to get out of the house and come to campus, but the Emeriti Faculty Association is more than a social organization. One of our more rewarding endeavors has been that of working to improve the processes assisting faculty during their pre- and post-retirement transitions.
The Emeriti Association’s Transitions to Retirement (TtoR) Committee was established in late 2014. Its first project was to conduct a survey and hold focus group discussions. This resulted in a set of recommendations to the provost’s office, many of which were implemented, like enhancements to the university’s retirement website. The TtoR committee is now working under the aegis of the university’s TtoR taskforce, led by Vice Provost Matt Serra. In collaboration with human resources and the American Association for University Professors (AAUP), we are tackling the complexities of the retirement process across colleges. Currently, we are exploring the possibility of a university-wide, phased retirement program for faculty. We are also considering models for a pre-retirement mentoring program.
The Transition to Retirement Committee covers a lot of territory, from emeriti benefits to policies and forms to financial and healthcare related topics to the social and psychological impact of retirement. Our hope is to allow emeriti to retire effectively and efficiently by providing members with the resources (such as
this article from the New York Times) and support necessary to do so.
Ultimately, the interests of the TtoR group are those of the Emeriti Association: an organization with programs and services that provide an institutional home for faculty to retire
to (rather than
from).
For more information on the Transitions to Retirement committee, contact Lynn Davis at
davislynnk@gmail.com.
|
|
|
Lunch & Learn with Dr. Raj Mehta on Visiting Scholar Opportunities
|
|
|
Dr. Raj Mehta, Vice Provost for International Affairs, will sponsor a luncheon information session on the opportunities for teaching at some of UC’s strategic partner institutions. Under Dr. Mehta’s leadership, UC International has been working to be more deliberative and intentional about identifying and engaging with what they call “Strategic Partners.” These are institutions that have demonstrated the interest, will and enthusiasm to engage both widely and deeply with UC – embracing many disciplines and involving faculty, students and staff.
Examples of some of our partner institutions are Universidad de Concepción (Chile), the University of Gondar (Ethiopia), the University of Zagreb (Croatia), and Chiba U. (Japan). These teaching opportunities can vary anywhere from one week to a year or more.
Please join us from 11:30 – 1:00 on Nov. 30 in Langsam Library Room 462 for a complimentary lunch and remarks from Dr. Mehta.
|
|
|
Howard Ayer
Howard Ayer died Jul. 12, 2017 at the age of 92. Howard began his career in Cincinnati working at the Public Health Service (PHS) field headquarters. He was an expert in the field of Industrial Hygiene and his work with asbestos led him to provide expert testimony until the age of 82. Howard retired from the PHS in 1976 but began a career teaching courses in Industrial Hygiene and Safety at the University of Cincinnati until retiring at 65. Retirement didn’t slow Howard down as he continued to give lectures and participate in research projects well after achieving emeritus status. He is survived by his wife, Elsie and his sister Margaret Olson as well as three of his children, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Walter Levin
Walter Levin died Aug. 4, 2017 at the age of 92. After being accepted to Juilliard in 1946, Walter went on to form the LaSalle Quartet with several classmates. The Quartet first became the quartet in residence at Colorado College before arriving at the College of Music—which would one day become the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati—in Cincinnati in 1953. For more than 30 years, the Quartet served as CCM’s string quartet-in-residence while traveling the world and accumulating several prestigious awards. During his tenure at UC, Walter built quite the reputation for CCM and himself teaching several notable students including the conductor James Levine, violinist Christian Tetzlaff, pianist Stefan Litwin, and members of the Alban Berg Quartet, the Arditti Quartet and the Ariel Quartet. Walter Levin is survived by his wife of 68 years, Evi, and two sons, David and Tom.
|
|
|
|
On Nov. 3, 1914, the University News published the work of cartoonist, John "Paddy" Reece, as a humourous and visual account of the events in a recent UC football game. In this now infamous cartoon, Reece first referred to the team as the Bearcats. The name would stick and more than one hundred years later, we remain the home of the Cincinnati Bearcats.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
