News Archive

(01/31/07)

Cowan New Dean At Miami University Middletown

Marjorie (Kelly) M. Cowan, currently interim regional campus dean at Miami Middletown, has been appointed dean of that campus effective February 1, 2007.

Cowan joined the faculty at Miami Middletown in 1993, received tenure and was promoted to associate professor of microbiology in 2000, and in February 2005 was promoted to full professor. She became associate executive director for academic affairs at Miami Middletown in July 2003.

"Kelly is an outstanding leader with a deep love both of Miami University and the Middletown community," said Miami University President David Hodge. "We're extremely pleased that she was willing to step forward and be considered for the position, and her appointment is a terrific outcome for everyone."

She earned a doctorate from the University of Louisville, where her research focused on applying physicochemical methodologies to describing the adhesion of bacteria to human tissues. Her book, The Microbe Files: Cases in Microbiology for the Undergraduate, was published in 2001. In 2005 her textbook, Microbiology: A Systems Approach, co-authored with Kathleen Park Talaro of Pasadena City College, was published by McGraw-Hill.

"In the last year and a half, Kelly Cowan has demonstrated tremendous leadership as interim dean of Miami University Middletown, in revitalizing the campus, building new ties with the community, and revising and re-energizing the instructional program," said Miami University Provost Jeff Herbst. "As the new permanent dean, she will accomplish even more in the years to come."

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(01/24/07)

Miami Middletown, Chamber Offer Workshop for Teachers

Miami University Middletown and The Chamber of Commerce Serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton will present a summer credit workshop for teachers designed to answer the age-old question, "Why do we have to learn that?"

The Community Resources Workshop (EDL558) will help teachers develop lesson plans that incorporate knowledge from real-world workplaces and meet State of Ohio academic content standards.

Teachers taking the class will visit eight local businesses to learn first-hand the scientific, technological and communication skill sets required of employees. Participating Chamber of Commerce businesses include: Cohen Brothers, CompuNet Clinical Laboratories, Deceuninck NA, KEIR Educational Resources, Magnode Corporation, Middletown Regional Hospital, Middletown Tube Products and Worthington Steel.

"The chamber has as part of its mission to support education," said Chamber President Bill Triick. "One of the ways to implement this mission is to maintain and improve the interaction between the business community and the educational system in order to enhance the chances for graduates to be better prepared for success in the workplace. This teacher workshop, designed and accredited by Miami Middletown, is one of the most effective ways we know to achieve this goal."

Miami faculty from the computer and information technology, education and English departments will lead the classroom component of the course. The three-hour class will meet on weekdays, June 18-29, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at Miami University Middletown.

"In designing this class, we put special emphasis on the connection between the site visits and state content standards," said Miami Middletown Acting Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Dr. Jeff Sommers.

For more information on this workshop, contact Dr. Jeff Sommers, Miami University Middletown, (513) 727-3211, sommerjd@muohio.edu.

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(01/23/07)

Miami Middletown Sponsors Black History Events

Miami University Middletown is sponsoring a number of events for Black History Month. All are open to the public and many are free.

Feb. 5, U.S. Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) Lecture, 10:30 a.m., Johnston Hall Campus Community Center, free.

Feb. 5, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, 7:30 p.m., Dave Finkelman Auditorium, traditional South African music. Adults $20, Seniors/Miami Faculty & Staff $15, Students $10.

Feb. 7, African-American Read-In, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Johnston Hall Campus Community Center. A variety of literature representative of the African-American experience will be shared, free.

Feb. 5 & 6, Multicultural Book Fair and Extravaganza, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Johnston Hall Campus Community Center, free.

Feb. 12, Panel Discussion with James Meredith, 10:30 a.m., Johnston Hall Campus Community Center, free.

Feb. 15, Soul Food Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Johnston Hall Campus and Community Center. Experience a taste of "soul food," reminiscent of the South, $6.

Feb. 17, Open Mic Night, 7 p.m., Verity Lodge. All are welcome to recite/read poetry, lyrics and spoken word, free.

Feb. 20, Alice Scott Lecture, 10:30 a.m., Johnston Hall Campus Community Center, free.

Feb. 23, Hip-Hop History Lecture, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Dave Finkelman Auditorium, free.

Feb. 24, Hip-Hop Dance Demonstrations, 1 - 2 p.m., Dave Finkelman Auditorium, free.

Feb. 24, Hip-Hop Dance Theatre Concert, Illstyle and Peace Productions, 8 p.m., Dave Finkelman Auditorium. This performance combines the spirit of hip-hop with a variety of other disciplines. Adults $10, Seniors/Miami Faculty & Staff $8, Students $5.

Feb. 26, Constance Slaughter Harvey Lecture, 10:30 a.m., Johnston Hall Campus Community Center, free.

For more information on any of these events, call (513) 727-3200. Miami Middletown is located at 4200 E. University Blvd.

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(01/23/07)

Fantastic Free Fridays Continue at Miami Middletown

Miami University Middletown's Fantastic Free Fridays series continues its seventh season on Friday, Feb. 9 with a performance at 10 a.m. by the Miami University Collegiate Chorale.

Recommended for all lovers of good choral music, the Miami University Collegiate Chorale is a selected mixed choir. Under the direction of Ethan Sperry, they will perform a varied repertoire of music including historic Western music and contemporary multicultural selections. In recent years, the Miami University Collegiate Chorale has toured Russia, France, and Italy.

Other Fantastic Free Fridays spring performances are: Same Spirit Different Movement by Illstyle Rockers (10 a.m. on February 23), folk music duo Wild Carrot (10 a.m. on March 30) and The Ugly Duckling, by Artreach Theatre (10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on April 20).

A generous donation from the Bever family of Oxford is again helping to support the Fantastic Free Fridays program.

Fantastic Free Fridays performances are open to the public. Groups interested in attending performances should contact Susan Joyce, music faculty member at Miami University Middletown, at joyces@muohio.edu, or by voice mail at (513) 727-3415.

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(01/23/07)

Learn About Miami Middletown at Tour and Talk

Tour and Talk sessions will be held at Miami University Middletown at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. every Tuesday in February.

The Tour and Talk program includes a tour of the facilities, discussion about educational opportunities at Miami Middletown and presentations on how to enroll and apply for financial aid.

The program will begin in the lobby of Johnston Hall and reservations are not required. For more information, call (513) 727-3216 or 1-86-MIAMI-MID toll-free or email mumadmission@muohio.edu. Miami University Middletown is located at 4200 E. University Blvd.

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(01/16/07)

Civil Rights Legends Series Begins Feb. 5

Congressman Bennie Thompson and James Meredith are among the list of Mississippi Civil Rights notables who will be coming to Miami Middletown in February as part of the Mississippi Civil Rights Legends Lecture Series. The Series, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 10:30 a.m. on three Mondays and one Tuesday in February in Johnston Hall's new Campus and Community Center at Miami Middletown.

Speaking on Monday, Feb. 5 is Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS). He is currently serving his eighth term in Congress and is the new chair of the Homeland Security Committee. He will be speaking on "A Call to Action from Country Roads to the White House."

On Feb. 12, James Meredith will be part of a panel that will discuss "The Cost of the Long Road to Freedom." Meredith was the first African-American to graduate from the University of Mississippi. Other panelists that day are Tougaloo College President Beverly Wade Hogan and Middletown's Rev. Elmon Prier.

Alice M. Scott, first African-American woman to be elected Mayor of Canton, Miss., will speak on Tuesday, Feb. 20 on "The Power of the Vote and its Effect on Mississippi Politics."

On Feb. 26, Constance Slaughter Harvey, the first African--American woman to graduate from the University of Mississippi School of Law, will speak on "Using the Legal Process to Ensure Full Political Participation."

"A group of Miami Middletown students went to Mississippi in 2004 and had such a wonderful experience meeting the people who will be participating in this series," said Miami Middletown Scholar in Residence Flonzie Brown-Wright. "They were so giving of their time and experience with our students. We wanted to bring them here so everyone could meet them and share the inspiration." Brown-Wright, a Mississippi native and creator of the Legends Series, grew up with many of the speakers.

The Mississippi Civil Rights Legends Series is part of Miami Middletown's Black History Month celebration. For more information on the series, call (513) 217-4002.

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(01/10/07)

Miami Middletown to Host Blood Drive

Miami University Middletown will host a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, January 18 in the new Campus Community Center. Donors must be at least 17 and 110 pounds, be in good general health and must bring a photo I.D. with their full name.

For information on donor eligibility, visit www.cbccts.org, call (800) 388-4483 or email canidonate@cbccts.org. Miami Middletown is at 4200 E. University Blvd.

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(01/10/07)

Ladysmith Black Mambazo Coming to MUM on Feb. 5

Ladysmith Black Mambazo will bring traditional South African music to Miami Middletown's Dave Finkelman Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 5 as part of the campus' Artist & Lecture Series.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is regarded as a national treasure to the new South Africa and represents traditional South African culture. In a career that has spanned nearly thirty years, they have recorded forty albums and sold over six million records. They are Grammy Award winners and have appeared on numerous television programs, on Broadway and can be heard in films which include Disney's The Lion King. In 1993, Ladysmith Black Mambazo accompanied then South African President F.W. de Klerk and future President Nelson Mandela to the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.

In addition to Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the season's Artist & Lecture Series performances include hip-hop dance-theater by Illstyle & Peace Productions (8 p.m. on February 24) and bluegrass and country music artists Robin and Linda Williams & Their Fine Group (8 p.m. on March 3).

Tickets for the Feb. 5 performance are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for students and can be purchased by calling (513) 727-3383 in Middletown, (513) 529-3200 in Oxford or at www.tickets.muohio.edu.

Miami University Middletown is located at 4200 East University Boulevard.

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(01/08/07)

Muñoz to Speak at Hall of Fame Event

Miami University Middletown has announced the formation of an athletic Hall of Fame, which will honor student athletes, coaches, teams and others who have brought recognition and honor to the University during the past 40 years. Induction ceremonies for the Hall's inaugural class will take place on Friday, Jan. 19 at Miami Middletown and will feature a keynote address by NFL Hall of Famer Anthony Muñoz and dinner catered by the Montgomery Inn.

The inaugural class of inductees includes basketball standouts Rich Hinkel (1969-73), Dale Spitler (1974-78), Teresa Kozarec (1979-84), Bev Elswick Little (1986-90); basketball and baseball first team all-conference pick Bobby Hunt (1993-98) and Miami Middletown athletic program founder and coach Lynn Darbyshire (1966-1995).

"This was definitely the right time to begin to honor the student athletes, coaches and administrators who have made Miami Middletown so competitive both regionally and on the state level," said Miami Middletown Athletic Director Jim Sliger.

Miami Middletown's teams have won the Ohio Regional Campus Conference (ORCC) All-Sports Award 16 times, including 11 times consecutively (1994-2004). The ORCC is made up of 10 schools, including many of the regional campuses of Ohio State, Ohio University, Akron, U.C. and Miami. Miami Middletown fields teams in baseball, women's softball, men's and women's basketball, golf, tennis and volleyball.

The induction ceremony on Jan. 19 will begin with hors d'oeuvres at 5 p.m followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and the induction ceremony and Mr. Muñoz's address at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend this event, which will be held in Miami Middletown's new Campus Community Center. Cost for the event is $35, with all proceeds going to benefit the Greg Lansaw Scholarship Fund. Lansaw, who lost his battle with cancer two years ago, was ThunderHawk golf coach 2001-2004.

Sponsors of the Hall of Fame induction ceremony include Allied Reliability, Dickerson Distributing Company, Enterprise Rentals, Kemper Mortgage and the Middletown Journal.

Tickets are available in the Miami Middletown Athletic Office or by calling (513) 727-3317

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(01/08/07)

United Voices Schedules Auditions

Auditions for the United Voices of Middletown choir will be held from 1-2 p.m. and from 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 10 and from noon - 1 p.m. and 6 - 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 12 in Room 17 of Johnston Hall. Those auditioning should bring accompaniment tracks and be prepared to perform two selections. For more information or to schedule a time, call Kip Moore at (513) 464-1108. The United Voices of Middletown is the official choir of Miami University Middletown. Upcoming performances include the Civil Rights Legends Lecture Series and Miami Middletown Fortieth Anniversary events.

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(01/03/07)

Campus to Host Scholarship Blitz

Miami University Middletown will host a free "Scholarship Blitz" program for potential and current students from 10 - 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20 in Johnston Hall.

Sessions will be presented on steps to apply, filing for Federal Student Aid, researching scholarships, writing a scholarship essay and other scholarship options.

"Three out of four full-time students at Miami Middletown are currently receiving financial aid of some kind," said MUM Director of Admission and Financial Aid Stacey Adams. "It is an area that all current and potential students should investigate, whether they plan on attending Miami University or another institution. This workshop is a quick and easy way to get started."

Miami Middletown has scholarships based on academic merit, financial need, ethnicity, major and many other criteria.

Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. In case of inclement weather, the workshop will be postponed until January 27. For more information or to RSVP, call (513) 727-3200. Please RSVP by January 16.

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