President's Blog

Reflecting Upon My One-Year Anniversary as President

It was most exciting to celebrate our new graduates, including our first Hope Toledo Scholar,­­ during our commencement ceremonies here at Owens last month. Commencement is truly one of my favorite times of year — it represents so much of what we work toward as an institution of higher education. The ceremonies also inspired me to look back and take the opportunity to reflect on the conclusion of my own first year as president.

I could not be prouder of the progress we’ve made together this year and of all the plans we have for the years ahead. The following points of pride from the 2021-22 academic year only begin to tell our story, knowing that Owens has a meaningful impact on its faculty, staff, students and all of northwest Ohio.

We’ve strengthened our partnerships with Toledo Public Schools and other K-12 systems, ensuring younger students have clear pathways toward the postsecondary goals they want to achieve. Owens is committed to making the transition from high school to college as seamless as possible for all those who aspire to earn a college degree, certificate or workforce training.

When students get to Owens, we want to make sure they experience an immediate sense of belonging, no matter their background or affiliation. That holds true for our faculty and staff as well. The launch of the landmark Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force marked a formalized commitment for the Owens community and emphasizes our ongoing commitment to ensuring everyone has a place on our campuses and in our programs.

Last month, we were also honored to be named among the state’s inaugural Collegiate Purple Star Campuses. Ohio is the first to recognize leaders for military-affiliated students and veterans in this fashion. I am deeply proud of this testament to the commitment Owens has offered for years in support of these communities.

Now that more faculty and students are back to in-person instruction and learning, they are able to more fully take advantage of our state-of-the-art training facilities. Many of these facilities have received outstanding support from our surrounding communities. We celebrated the naming of the Frankel Dentistry Dental Lab at the Toledo-area Campus, with honoree Dr. Jonathan Frankel and his family in attendance, back in March.

Owens continues to make a name for itself in the field of advanced manufacturing education. The $9.6 million, 59,000-square-foot Dana Center opened in October at our Toledo-area Campus and offers technical training in advanced manufacturing and other skilled trades. The long-awaited dedication of the Gene Haas Computer Numeric Control (CNC) Machining Lab at the Dana Center was held in May of this year. The lab features specialized, hands-on training tools for students pursuing various degrees and certificates, including Applied Engineering Technology, CAD Technology, Skilled Trades Mechanical, Tool & Die/Mold Making, Welding and more.

Another big accomplishment was the formal initiation of planning for the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics, a first-of-its-kind intercollegiate partnership with our partners at Bowling Green State University and the University of Findlay. Our three very different institutions have come together to establish a unified entity so students can pursue the degrees and certificates that best align with their career goals and connect with regional employers in need of their skills.

Alongside leaders from both universities, I had the opportunity to present on all of the collaboration that is going into the Center’s creation at this year’s American Association of Community Colleges Annual Conference in a session entitled “How Intercollegiate Partners Align Higher Ed & Workforce Training.”

Also at the AACC Annual, we celebrated Professor of English Jen Hazel’s selection for the 2022 Dale P. Parnell Faculty Distinction Recognition, a highly competitive and well-deserved national award for her commitment to students in and beyond the classroom. Professor Hazel’s work is also emblematic of so many faculty and staff at Owens who have dedicated their careers to the pursuit of excellence, all to benefit our students and the communities we serve.  With this foundation, we will dig deeper, innovate and meet challenges head-on.

All of these new beginnings benefit greatly from our many community partnerships, especially those with regional employers like Amazon and those employers who participate in the Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (RAMP). The results speak for themselves: Owens graduates are more prepared than ever to secure good jobs with career-ready skillsets, and employers have access to a strong pipeline of local talent.

Last but hardly least — and possibly most fun — has been the launch of my “Conversations” podcast, a monthly in-depth interview with engaging local and state voices on the intersections of college and community across northwest Ohio. We’ve already released three episodes with more on the way, produced by Owens Student Media Center Station Manager Herbey Atkinson ’17 and with original music by Josh Jump ’21.

As we look toward the 2022 Fall Semester and the new strategic planning process, we have a lot to inspire us in the year ahead! Enjoy your summer, and thank you for an unforgettable first year at Owens Community College.

Dione D. Somerville, Ed.D.
President