President's Blog

Giving Thanks

As we approach Thanksgiving and the many reasons to celebrate this holiday season, I want to express my own gratitude for the meaningful gestures of welcome and collaboration I have experienced since returning to Ohio.

First and foremost, I want to thank the dedicated faculty and staff at Owens who so selflessly serve our community each day, working to fulfill our mission to provide a high quality and affordable education that leads to rewarding careers, personal growth and regional economic strength. Whether you are in the classroom, running our facilities or providing direct student support, we could not be who we are without you. I’m sure many Owens employees have gratitude for their co-workers. To recognize a fellow employee or even an entire department, click here to submit a “Giving Thanks” message through our Human Resources department. My thanks to Human Resources for organizing this effort.

One of the best parts of Owens is our students. It can be challenging to build a sense of belonging at a community college when so many of our students have busy lives and are juggling multiple responsibilities. But Owens is different. My interactions with students are the bright spots of my day, and I was particularly impressed with our students’ Halloween costume contest and the open forum with the administration. These student-led events show our students’ leadership skills, creativity and commitment to the College.

November is also a month when we honor our veterans and military families who have made great sacrifices for our country. I was excited to attend the Walleye’s Military Appreciation Night last week and am eager to learn more about the new Student Veterans Organization that is forming here at the College. On behalf of all of us at Owens, we thank our veterans for their service. If you’re a veteran and missed this month’s Student Veterans newsletter, please take a look here.

Outside the immediate Owens community and across northwest Ohio, I am energized to see our peer institutions as well as K-12, business and civic leaders embrace opportunities to partner for the good of the region. Owens has most recently engaged with Bowling Green State University and the University of Findlay in a historic partnership to explore the development of a new Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics. Operating from our Findlay-area Campus, the Center will be designed to support northwest Ohio’s economic growth by producing skilled workers to fill in-demand jobs in the advanced manufacturing and logistics sectors. In addition to offering a solution to workforce shortages, we envision that the Center will serve as a model for institutions across the state and beyond to emulate.

Indeed, as president of Owens Community College there is much to be thankful for as I look back on these last five months and ahead to 2022. However you experience Owens — whether you are current or former faculty, staff, one of our students, or one of our partners — please know that you bring immense value to the College and are deeply appreciated.

Dione D. Somerville, Ed.D.
President