Category: Love and Honor

December 2019 Newsletter

  By , , , , , ,

Dear fellow Miamians,

Renate and I wish you all a peaceful holiday season. We look forward to seeing you back on Miami’s campuses in 2020, and we are excited about the things we can accomplish together.

Gregory Crawford, President

Love and Honor,
Greg Crawford

Greg Crawford's signature

TOP STORY

Executing our MiamiRISE strategic plan

Three months into our new MiamiRISE strategic plan, Academic Affairs is re-envisioning our programs, processes and goals to position Miami University as a leading public university for the future. We have engaged multiple shared governance groups to focus our curricular offerings on areas of student demand and employer need while maintaining our deep roots in the liberal arts traditions of Miami.

Curriculum review is a key strategy to ensure our resources are directed effectively. We have established a shared governance committee to ensure the broad university community is engaged in strategically reviewing what we do and how we do it. Dean Cathy Bishop-Clark and Dr. Susan Spellman recently shared with other deans how they have been using dashboards to more efficiently offer course sections within CLAAS, which allows them to support both valuable existing programs and growth areas. We think there is opportunity across the university to find more of these opportunities. Gray Associates visited campus in November and led us through a two-day workshop, attended by academic leaders throughout the university, to identify these opportunities for investment. We expect these data, which will be openly available to divisions, can stimulate important discussions about how to continue innovating in curricular offerings, allowing us to remain financially resilient in a challenging national climate.

Our searches for four key leaders (deans of FSB, CEC and the Graduate School and vice president for research and innovation) are progressing well. These leaders will help us move toward our MiamiRISE goals, so please engage when candidates come to campus next semester. We will continue to update the campus community as we move forward.  

We continue to reallocate and invest in strategic priorities. Early in 2019, we implemented a five-year plan to reduce administrative and operational spending. To allow for the future investments we need to make sooner, several units have accelerated these reallocations to complete many of the reductions this year. Our strategy has been to “stretch” our current resources so we can invest in new programs and curriculum in the future. In the competitive climate in higher education where we find ourselves today, reducing spending and repurposing resources to high priorities while concurrently investing in emerging opportunities will be the norm. Our budgeting and investing process will be more dynamic than ever before to keep pace with global change.

At the same time, we are working diligently to reduce our tuition discount rate and increase other revenue streams. Collectively, this will allow us to pivot and invest in our future and our core mission of producing exceptional graduates prepared to address the profound challenges we face as a society.

We have a committee tackling the MiamiRISE challenge of innovating in the Global Miami Plan, and the faculty on this committee have held multiple listening sessions around the university to hear ideas and concerns. The honors college planning committee will also do a good deal of talking and listening. Both groups are planning to have more discussion sessions throughout the spring semester, with the goal of articulating a creative and bold vision for these two signature priorities by May 2020. We are committed to broad input and discussion from the campus community and look forward to crafting a shared vision for these initiatives.

Within Academic Affairs, shared governance is our mantra. We are working to engage faculty, staff and student leaders throughout Miami on many fronts to be sure we are remaining true to the core values and mission of Miami while positioning the university for success. We know there is tremendous intellect within our university, and we hope each of you will engage constructively in understanding the issues we confront and the opportunities available. If we as One Miami thrive and support each other, all areas of the university will flourish.

MIAMI TRIBE

Celebrating our special relationship and Myaamia Center partnership

Miami Athletics hosted the inaugural “Celebrating Miami: Tribe & University” week in mid-November, highlighting the unique and long-standing partnership between Miami Athletics and the Myaamia Center on Miami’s Oxford campus. This partnership stems directly from the relationship between Miami University and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma that started in 1972 and was formalized in 2001.

At all home games for the week, Miami student-athletes paid tribute to the partnership with different uniform elements. For football and hockey, fans saw a brand-new helmet decal, while the volleyball and men’s basketball teams unveiled uniforms with the Myaamia heritage logo. Hockey is playing all season long at Steve “Coach” Cady arena with a specially designed puck with the heritage logo.

The logo features the traditional Myaamia Tribe ribbon-work pattern using two large geometric diamonds (the left represents the Miami Tribe and the right represents Miami University) extending on either side of a central diamond that represents the space where these two connect with a shared vision, a sense of cooperation and a deep respect for the reciprocal learning that results.

Miami University is fortunate to have 32 Myaamia students enrolled on campus this academic year. In preparation for the special week, the Myaamia students helped plan activities for each game throughout the fall semester. Fans also had the opportunity to learn about the relationship between the Miami Tribe, Miami University, Myaamia language and culture and Myaamia students on campus.

Chief Doug Lankford was also presented with a Miami University Athletics letter jacket!

Please also join me on congratulating Myaamia Center Director Daryl Baldwin on being honored as an exceptional alumni by his alma mater the University of Montana.

MIAMI ATHLETICS

Touchdown! Special Cleveland alumni event at Browns’ stadium

Cleveland-area Miamians were treated Nov. 7 to a fun and insightful behind-the-scenes look at FirstEnergy Stadium, the home of the Cleveland Browns. Miamians toured the locker room and press box and got the chance to walk through the tunnel onto the field, a unique opportunity made possible through the generosity of the Haslam family. 

When Cynthia Haslam Arnholt ’93 joined the Miami family as a student in Oxford, her mother Dee jumped right in with her. Dee was active in the Parents’ Council and served as a member of the Miami University Foundation Board. Dee was able to join us in Cleveland and her reflections about what Miami means to her were a perfect addition to the evening and highlight how connected we are as the Miami family.

More than 160 Clevelanders attended the alumni event in Cleveland. It was a wonderful time to share Miami stories and to engage our large alumni base in the city.

FREEDOM SUMMER

Conference examines history and impact on the 55th anniversary of Freedom Summer training in Oxford

In partnership with the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Miami kicked off a two day mini-conference Nov. 1-2 on “Freedom Summer: Then, Now and in the Future.” The conference celebrated the 55th anniversary of the training that sought to end the segregated voting registration practices throughout the South and increase the registration of African American voters. It was a time when hundreds of volunteers, educators and civil rights activists attended training at Western College for Women, now part of Miami University. This fall’s event, featuring actual Freedom Summer participants, historians, civil rights leaders, Miami alums and current students, reflected on how Freedom Summer became a catalyst for progress and change in the United States, contemplated its impact today and considered how to advance its spirit and legacy into the future. The conference, with over 300 attendees, was a tremendous success, and we are proud of those who made it possible.

The Office of the President and Office of Institutional Diversity co-sponsored the event, with internal partners including the Office of the Provost, College of Arts and Science, Humanities Center and Department of History, along with our external partners at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Macy’s, PNC Bank and The John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust.

GLOBAL INITIATIVES

Miami’s internationalization efforts honored in Washington D.C.

Miami is a 2019 recipient of the Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization, which recognizes outstanding global innovation and accomplishment. President Crawford accepted the award Nov. 21 on behalf of the university at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Miami University alumni, staff and supporters also attended to celebrate at the NAFSA International Education Week event and hear a panel discussion with presidents from Simon Award recipient institutions about the importance of leading internationalization efforts in higher education.

The award represents the deep-rooted commitment of our community of educators, students, staff and alumni at Miami, who collaborate to embed international and intercultural perspectives into our university mission and all of our curricular, co-curricular and service efforts.

MIAMI IN COLUMBUS

Miami “takes over” Ohio Statehouse to tell the story of impact on Ohio

More than 100 Miamians participated Oct. 29 in the largest Statehouse Day in university history. The Miami delegation consisted of 70 undergraduate students, five graduate students, 26 faculty and staff and three alumni. Team Miami met with more than 120 Ohio General Assembly member offices, addressing how Miami strives to advance state priorities and sharing their Miami experiences in undergraduate research, experiential learning and community engagement.

Two days later, 35 undergraduate students traveled to Washington, D.C. for the Government Relations Immersion Program. During the conference, students advocated for Miami University and higher education by sharing their Miami experiences with members of the Ohio Congressional delegation. Students from the National Black Law Student Association, the Lex Latinx Society and the Amicus Curiae Pre-Law Society visited D.C.-area law schools including George Washington University, American University and Howard University. All of the students heard from alumni working in a wide range of fields inside the beltway.

MIAMI REGIONALS

Commerce Innovation Hub created at Voice of America Learning Center

Miami has located the regional campuses commerce department and launched the Miami University Commerce Innovation Hub in renovated space at the Voice of America Learning Center, which has served students and local businesses from the Interstate 75 location since January 2009.

Commerce is one of the fastest-growing bachelor’s degree programs at Miami Regionals with more than 700 students now in online, face-to-face and hybrid classes. In 2018, graduates from the department’s Small Business Management program had an average salary of more $56,000, and 97% of the graduates were employed or furthering their education.

The Innovation Hub will bring together the faculty expertise of the commerce department as new degree programs are developed to meet regional economic needs and to offer non-credit professional training and development opportunities.

Commerce joins Miami’s nationally ranked Professional MBA program that began at the VOA Learning Center 10 years ago. In addition, Miami offers a number of graduate certification, licensure and degree programs for area educators, combining the center’s convenient location with Miami’s TEAM scholarships for qualified teachers and administrators.

STUDENT

Student veteran at Miami preparing for teaching career

Tyler Judd pointing at a giant globe

Tyler Judd, Class of ’21, served in the U.S. Marine Corps 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines. Deploying twice overseas with the Marines, he received the Purple Heart when wounded in action in Afghanistan in 2013. Now he’s at Miami University, pursing a degree in geography and hoping to teach high school history or geology.

Following his active service in the Marine Corps, he chose to pursue his bachelor’s degree and selected Miami for its excellent undergraduate education. He’s familiar with Miami because he’s a native of Camden in southwest Ohio. 

Beyond spending time with his dog Remington, Tyler volunteers as a high school football coach (Go Preble Shawnee!) and enjoys nearly any form of outdoor pursuits.  Tyler is active in Miami’s extensive intramural sports program, participating in broomball, softball, basketball and the pistol club.  

“Growing up nearby I’ve always viewed Miami as one of the finest institutions of higher learning,” Judd said. “It has lived up to its reputation and has been a wonderful experience.” 

STAFF

Miami librarian and archivist helps preserve Miami’s history and legacy

Jacqueline Johnson is a principal librarian who serves as Miami’s university archivist, overseeing collections including the Western College Memorial Archives. She earned her master’s degree in library science from the University of South Carolina and her bachelor’s degree in English from Limestone College. Her research focuses on civil rights, the Mississippi Freedom Summer training and history of Western College. She has been invaluable in promoting the role of Western College for Women during The Freedom Summer of 1964. In addition to supporting faculty and student projects on the subject, she has been integral in the development of the Mississippi Freedom Summer Digital Collection Metadata Project and website as well as in organizing the Freedom Summer oral history program. Recently, she helped secure a collection of items related to the late Jerry Williams ’39, one of Miami’s first African-American student-athletes.

She is the editor of “Finding Freedom: Memorializing the Voices of Freedom Summer,” the first book to provide detailed information about the Freedom Summer Memorial on the campus of Western College at Miami. 

Johnson is a member of the National Civil Rights Conference Planning Committee and has served on committees for the Society of Ohio Archivists. Her scholarly contributions include 19 successful grant applications and more than 40 presentations.

FACULTY

From dining services to professor, Parkinson helps Miamians live healthier lives

On any given day, you can find Nancy Parkinson somewhere in Oxford pursuing her passion – helping others lead healthier lives. A registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), president of the Ohio Nutrition Council and clinical faculty member is the ultimate networker and bridge builder. At the core of her work is connecting with others to create meaningful community partnerships and programs that broaden the learning experiences for her students.

Some of these projects include: collaborating with Oxford Kiwanis and the Talawanda elementary and middle schools for the K-Kids and Builders Club service leadership programs, including the introduction of a tower vegetable gardens project; creating a peak performance nutrition program with Miami football; hosting all-day STEAM nutrition camps for local youth; and working with the Talawanda Oxford Pantry and Social Services (TOPSS) to teach Oxford youth how to prepare quick, affordable and nutritious dishes. Together with her students, they develop, organize and implement hands-on nutrition education programs to coach the public on better ways to eat and stay healthy.

Doing this work is a dream come true for Parkinson. At 13 years old, she knew nutrition education was her passion and that her goal was to become a registered dietitian. She started her career as Miami’s assistant manager of dining services after graduating from Bluffton University in 1983, and by 1987 she was promoted to manager of dining services. After more than 10 years, she left to expand her work experiences and later returned to school to complete her master’s degree in dietetic internship at Ball State. She then headed back to Miami – this time to teach. Her vast experience in food systems management was just what Miami’s program was looking for and was the perfect fit for Nancy’s goal of becoming a nutrition educator.

“I can impact 120 people, who in turn impact thousands,” Nancy exclaims.

All of that networking and partnership building ties right into the future of nutrition education – inter-professional health care teams.

“The next level of health care is the prevention of chronic diseases, and we’re taking our students there,” she said. “Clinical Dietetics and nutrition education are the foundations of the undergraduate and graduate dietetic internship programs at Miami, which will be key in developing these inter-professional health care teams. They will be prepared to bring their expertise to the table for patient-centered care and equipped to collaborate with all the other disciplines.”

As she reflected on her career, she mentioned a saying she lives by: “Respect the past, do your best with the present and look to the future.” Where does Nancy see her future?

“In thinking about where to put my energies,” she said, “these days I’m interested in addressing issues of food insecurity and hydroponic gardening. That’s what I’d like to continue to explore.”

November 2019 Newsletter

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Dear fellow Miamians,

As we near the season of Thanksgiving, I am honored to reflect on the accomplishments and success of our students, faculty, staff and alumni. Our community members continue to set high standards, seek excellence in all they do and constantly move us forward in amazing ways. I am grateful to be surrounded by such talented and dedicated colleagues and friends.

Thank you for all that you do.

Gregory Crawford, President

Love and Honor,
Greg Crawford

Greg Crawford's signature

TOP STORY

Planning underway for new health science building

Students working in a medical laboratory

Miami has taken the first steps toward building a new health science building on the Oxford campus. In September, our Board of Trustees authorized $4.5 million for planning and design. We hope to begin construction in mid-2020 and complete the building by summer 2022. It will be our first new academic building since the Farmer School of Business opened in fall 2009.

Demand in health-related professions continues to grow. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects millions of health-related jobs will be created in the coming decade. This year, we expanded the successful nursing program at our regional campuses to Oxford. By co-locating our health programs together – nursing, speech pathology and audiology (and the clinic), kinesiology and health, and the student health center – we can create a health district that will promote collaboration and allow us to better capitalize on synergistic opportunities. 

Located at the site of the existing Health Services Center on Campus Avenue, the health science building will be in immediate proximity to Phillips Hall, Goggin and the Rec Center.  

ANNUAL ADDRESS

Celebrating the past year, transforming for a bright future

Miami’s future as a “transformative university” is a place where students become scholars, leaders, creators and problem-solvers. They serve as architects of their future. By adding graduate and professional programs, repurposing resources into growing areas and retaining a focus on our undergraduate excellence, Miami will thrive in the rapidly changing world of higher education.

In my annual address to the Miami community October 23, we celebrated together our successes of the past year and looked toward that bright future. I remain certain of one thing – our faculty and staff are dedicated and committed to the student experience.

Our accomplishments span all academic divisions and campuses. We reached more than $24 million in sponsored research for the second consecutive year, our students volunteered more than 40,000 hours of community service, more than 3,000 undergraduate students participated in research and scholarship with faculty and students took entrepreneurship courses more than 4,300 times this year. We launched the Ohio Work+ program at Miami Regionals to provide students a path to a bachelor’s degree without taking on debt.

Last year, we increased counseling and other support services offered through Student Life. Miami Athletics earned awards from the Mid-American Conference for the top men’s and women’s athletic programs and the top overall athletic department for athletic success, academics and citizenship. Miami was also honored with the Sen. Paul Simon Award for comprehensive internationalization. These are just a few of our many accomplishments.

To sustain our excellence, we must transform the way we deliver education – more experiential learning that transcends disciplinary boundaries to prepare graduates for this dynamic world. To do that, we must focus on creating an organization poised for dynamic change, bold in its ideas and nimble enough to identify, re-deploy and invest resources where they can have the most impact.

Led by our MiamiRISE strategic plan, we will closely examine our academic offerings and our operations across all campuses. We will continue to invest for the future through initiatives such as our $50 million Boldly Creative fund, which already is supporting areas including health sciences, data and analytics, automation and robotics. Other MiamiRISE innovations could include focused investments in current or new areas of faculty research, new areas of study, an Honors College and post-graduate programs.

Miami is on the RISE in reputation, rankings and many important measures of success, thanks in large part to the dedication and commitment of our exceptional faculty, staff, alumni, donors and community partners. Thanks to each of you for making Miami a place we are proud to call home.

DIVERSITY

Highlights and takeaways from the 2019 Diversity & Inclusion Conference

Dr. Bennyce Hamilton addressing the audience during her presentation

More than 150 Miami staff, faculty, students and community members attended the 2019 Diversity & Inclusion Conference on October 11. The conference provided an opportunity to learn from one another, learn more about diversity initiatives on all of our campuses and engage with colleagues through dialogue and conversations.

To open the day, we reflected upon the Truth and Reconciliation Project led by Anthony James and Valerie Robinson. Professor Rodney Coates and General Counsel Robin Parker facilitated conversation about the First Amendment and freedom of expression during their well-attended presentation. Cynthia Crews from Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities led a discussion on “disability etiquette” and debunking disguised disabilities. These are important discussions in advancing diversity and inclusion at Miami – one of our top institutional priorities.

COMMUNITY

Nearly 100 become U.S. citizens at Miami Regionals

New citizens taking part in the naturalization oath ceremony

Miami Regionals’ Hamilton campus was the site of the mid-September Naturalization Ceremony held by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. During the ceremony, 99 individuals became U.S. citizens. The program is part of Citizenship and Democracy Week at Miami Regionals and an example of Miami’s close engagement with our communities and the state of Ohio.

Diversity is a foundational element of America’s strength and a vital source of creativity and innovation. During the last five years, more than 400 people have become naturalized U.S. citizens on the campus. Miami’s Glee Club contributed to the beautiful ceremony elevating us all through the universal language of music.

STUDENT

FBI internship prepares Hubbard for future career

Dr. Crawford speaking with a circle of students, including Justice Hubbard

Senior political science and economics major Justice Hubbard (first from left) has interned for the FBI in Cleveland for the past two summers, part of the agency’s honors internship program. Hubbard heard about the opportunity in high school, when he went through the FBI’s Future Agent in Training program. Justice engaged staff members including Randi Thomas, director of institutional relations; Maria Vitullo, director of Miami’s Pre-Law Center; and political science professor Mark Morris to assist him with his application. He worked in the Violent Crimes unit, often with assistant U.S. attorneys who prosecuted cases ranging from bank robberies and homicides to child pornography and kidnapping. “Being from Cleveland, working for the bureau in my own community has been an eye-opening experience,” Justice said. “It has reinforced my aspirations to study law and use my skill set to further the FBI’s mission.”

FACULTY

Helping support international faculty at Miami University

Yang Eun Chong sitting at her desk and doing work on her computer

It was five years ago that Miami’s commitment to inclusion brought Eun Chong Yang to Oxford – and now she is a champion for international students and faculty here.

Associate Director of the American Culture and English (ACE) program that serves as a bridge program for international students, and the founder and first president of the International Faculty and Staff Association at Miami (IFSAM), she is an advocate for integrating those from around the world into the Miami experience.

“We have a lot of things to bring to students,” said Yang, who speaks five languages. She was born in South Korea but lived in the U.S. for much of her childhood before returning to South Korea for college. She earned her master’s degree in multicultural literature for children from Xavier University and doctoral degree in teaching English as a second language at the University of Cincinnati. Last spring, she earned one of Miami’s inaugural diversity awards for her work with IFSAM.

Yang’s efforts are all about promoting academic excellence for international students who come to Miami with a language barrier, and working with faculty to maximize teaching effectiveness. Her teaching helps enhance rigor, improve consistency among instructors and enable assessments of English speaking, listening, reading and writing skills for ACE and international students. Her research centers on second language assessment. She is a certified international English language evaluator, and she’ll be doing an interdisciplinary research study starting this fall on the perception of international faculty teaching effectiveness.

“We’re linguistically equipped and we’re culturally and pedagogically competent,” she said of international faculty. “Students can be globalized with what we are bringing to this community.”

STAFF

Adam Sizemore advances sustainability

Adam Sizemore talking to a man

Director of Sustainability since July 2018, Adam Sizemore received a bachelor’s in sociology and philosophy as well as a master’s in sociology from Morehead State University. He also holds a Ph.D. from the University of Louisville in applied sociology, with areas of specialization in public policy and environmental sociology.

Sustainability is a highly transdisciplinary field. When asked how his education prepared him for this role, Sizemore said, “Sociology is an interdisciplinary field that studies a wide range of issues. As a sociologist, I believe everyone’s voice is valuable and crucial when seeking sustainable solutions. Sustainability is an area where we work across all disciplines to continue to advance and achieve success. I look forward to working with the campus community in a transdisciplinary, collaborative manner to advance environmental, social and economic sustainability at Miami University.”

Miami is committed to sustainability, as evidenced by advances in energy savings and carbon reduction. Most notably, Miami University has been leading efforts in higher education with substantially less energy use as compared to peers, a 45% reduction in carbon from energy usage from a decade ago and the end of burning coal on-site. Since Sizemore arrived at Miami, he has further advanced our sustainability efforts. He has revamped the student educator program called Green Team, created the Student Sustainability Council, planned events for the 20th anniversary of Recyclemania, worked with communications to design a new sustainability website and promoted sustainability across campus.

Within his first year, he also worked with the campus community to submit a Sustainability Tracking Assessment Rating System (STARS) report to the Association for the Advancement for Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). Miami achieved a silver STARS rating in 2013 and 2016. In 2019, Miami University received its first Gold STARS rating. When asked how important these recognitions are for Miami and for him personally, Sizemore said, “STARS provides a validation that we are progressing and advancing in positive ways, an avenue to learn best practices from others and a way to showcase everyone’s role in advancing sustainability at Miami.”

Sizemore also currently serves on the Sustainability Committee with faculty, staff and students to provide research and recommendations regarding strategies for our future. He worked with the Sustainability Committee to produce “A Commitment to Lead,” which details a new vision for sustainability at Miami. Currently, the Sustainability Committee is gathering information regarding whether to follow the Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitment (PCLC) or create our own internal plan for carbon neutrality. When asked about carbon neutrality aspirations, Sizemore responded, “We must think big and move aggressively towards carbon neutrality. We are all in this together, and all of us will need to contribute to achieve our aspirational goals.”

We flourish following the Code

  By

A thoughtful Miami undergraduate asked me the other day, if I could expand the Code of Love and Honor, what would I add?

I’d never considered that, and the question provided an opportunity for deep reflection. It gave me more appreciation and gratitude for the Code – and encouraged me to review its strength and the values, morals, and character it promotes.

Following the Code fortifies the individual. It encourages us to stand for something – “honesty, integrity, and the importance of moral conduct,” “good judgment and … personal responsibility.” It provides a foundation of “character and intellect” and a purpose – “to make the world a better place.”

Just as importantly, under the Code, the Miami community not only has a clear set of values; we act on them. It’s not sufficient to hold true opinions or right ideas without putting them into practice, and the Code calls us to live what we believe. It’s also not sufficient to perform an occasional good deed without a larger framework that will empower us to sustain a consistent good life, and the Code provides that structure as well.

Following the Code promotes positive relationships. This starts with being open-minded with the people around us – respecting, for example, “the dignity, rights, and property of others and their right to hold and express disparate beliefs” – but it doesn’t end there.

Following the Code means that our community will actively “welcome a diversity of people, ideas, and experiences” and support and care for fellow Miamians, a way to approach all relationships throughout life. This goes beyond tolerance and a distant live-and-let-live stance to real inclusion and meaningful connection.

The Code of Love and Honor is not a list of directives or a catalog of cases and consequences. It is a personal and individual commitment, every statement beginning with “I.”

As I reflected on the Code, I realized that it doesn’t need to be amended or extended as new situations arise because when we follow it, we are equipped to face whatever circumstances we might encounter. The effect of modeling the Code is “a deep sense of accomplishment” (without being conspicuous, of course) and gratitude for the relationships with “those who helped me earn the joy and privilege of saying, ‘To think that in such a place, I led such a life.’”

The undergraduate who asked me about the Code was, in fact, practicing Love and Honor.

He was thinking seriously about life and about our Miami community. He was willing to engage me rather than just wondering what I might think. That act of openness inspired me to reflect more deeply about our lives, too. It shows that the Code of Love and Honor provides the guidance we need to flourish in community.

This is what Love and Honor looks like

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Miami University Yager Stadium - Student Section 2017

Miami University Yager Stadium Student Section 2017

Miami University Students:

This is what Love and Honor looks like. I saw it Saturday night in the student section of Yager Stadium; the multitude of students who packed the stands were magnified by a unity beyond measure. Thank you to every Miami student who turned out to show our spirit. Your presence and support mean so much to so many; to the team that played their hearts out; to the band, from which Love and Honor resounded in our fight song; to Swoop and the cheer squad that channeled our energy; to the dance team that dazzled us; to the Glee Club that led our National Anthem; to the College of Creative Arts faculty; to the ushers, staff and crew that create an exceptional game day experience; to the memory of Terry Graves ’67; to the many others on hand who received your outpouring of Love and Honor; and to Renate and me. We talk a lot about meaningful connections, and one was made on Saturday night through the enthusiasm, the noise, and the spirit of Love and Honor.

These gatherings are the family outings of the whole Miami family. Athletics, performances, plays, competitions, presentations, service projects, and the many other events we all enjoy together as One Miami. They come with the win-win of supporting others and having a good time ourselves. They express and elevate our thriving community of Love and Honor. They build our friendship, our camaraderie, our generosity, and our care for fellow Miamians. They happen pretty much every day, sometimes with many opportunities in the same evening. Our Miami Experience is richer when we attend as many of them as we can.

Renate and I love attending Miami events because we are grateful to be part of such a family, we admire the gifts of our fellow Miamians, we are inspired by your energy and optimism, and we enjoy your company. They are at the heart of the marvel of Miami: “To think that in such a place I led such a life.” We hope to see you often this semester, and, thank you so much for showing your RedHawk spirit on Saturday night. You’re the best!

Comments shared at the Memorial Service for Coach Ara Parseghian (’49)

  By

August 6, 2017
Greg and Renate Crawford

Greg Crawford:
When I told Coach Ara about the opportunity to become president of Miami University last year, he responded: “I guess there’s only one place I’d let you go.” He had often told me about Miami in the years we worked together in the fight against Niemann-Pick disease Type-C (NPC). It’s where he met Katie, Class of 1950 – we call such marriages a Miami Merger. He played football at Miami, he earned a bachelor’s and a master’s in education, he became head football coach, he served on the board of trustees. More than that, he was a living example of Miami’s deepest virtues and values extolled in our alma mater, our motto, and our legendary greeting.

Our alma mater at Miami says our alumni are “sturdy hearted, pure of soul.” That’s Coach.

Our motto is Prodesse Quam Conspici, a Latin phrase that means “to achieve without becoming conspicuous.” That’s Coach.

Our deepest values are expressed in the phrase “Love and Honor.” That’s Coach.

Coach was sturdy in his determination to defeat NPC, unwavering even after his grandchildren succumbed to the disease, with the pure motive to help NPC children and families. When he was autographing a football, Coach would often sign “Best wish” – not wishes plural, but just one – because it’s the best one. I know that his best wish was a cure for NPC.

Coach achieved without being conspicuous, never calling attention to himself. Like every other boy growing up in Ohio in the 1970s, I dreamed of playing for Ara Parseghian. He was larger than life. When I wound up on his team fighting NPC, I marveled at his humility and magnanimity. You would never guess that this was the legendary coach with two national championships. He was a man who devoted his attention as well as his achievements to the service of others. When he was being honored by the March of Dimes soon after his grandchildren received their NPC diagnosis, he said, “My greatest achievement, I like to think, is maybe ahead of me.”

Coach demonstrated his Love and Honor with intense loyalty to his family – he was Katie’s husband; Mike and Karan and Kristan’s dad; a grandfather and a great-grandfather. He was loyal to his players, his alma mater, his friends, and the families suffering with NPC who needed his support. His famous lesson about unity and loyalty, reflecting Love and Honor, is my favorite quote: “You know what it takes to win. Just look at my fist. When I make a fist, it’s strong and you can’t tear it apart. As long as there’s unity, there’s strength.”

Love and Honor were shown to him. I will never forget that day last October when he and Katie landed in the little old Oxford airport on RedHawk One. Sixty years after Coach left, he was still a legend at Miami, and the student-athletes – not just football players – all lined up along the taxiway to welcome him with Love and Honor.

When I was here at Notre Dame, I visited Coach’s statue near the stadium countless times for inspiration when I was facing a difficult challenge – I found comfort passing by that famous statue. Fortunately for me, we have a statue of Ara in our Cradle of Coaches at Miami – kneeling down, that fist is open in what looks like a peace sign, catching a moment when he was calling a play from the sidelines.

One of my first acts at Miami University was to award the President’s Medal. As I read through the high standards – someone who truly exemplified Love and Honor – there was no doubt who would receive my first one. There is no greater model than Coach Ara of living Miami’s values for our students, our faculty, our staff, and our alumni. Or for me.

Renate Crawford:
On our daily runs, Greg and I often run the bleachers at Yager Stadium, passing the Cradle of Coaches where Ara’s statue proudly stands. We are glad he will forever be watching over our Miami family.

Being at Miami, we have seen the campus culture of Love and Honor that helps explain Coach’s remarkable life, his virtuous character, and his extraordinary service. All of us can look to his example for a model and inspiration of how to express Love and Honor in our family, our career, and our life to make a positive impact on others.

Coach is Greg’s favorite; always was and always will be. He is mine, too. Even if I had trouble following his football analogies, one thing is clear – what he has done for all of those mothers whose children suffer from NPC. He gave them courage, he gave them hope, he gave them optimism. He gave researchers the confidence to persevere. You are our hero, Coach, and the hero of all those NPC families and children. Watch over us from above, and call that last play that gets your NPC team over the goal line to the championship of a cure – a play call that will surely be a sign of healing and peace. We are your grateful legacy.

Greg:
On behalf of a grateful Miami University, on behalf of our athletic director David Sayler, head football coach Chuck Martin, board chair Mark Ridenour, and the entire Miami family, I say thank you, Coach. We will miss you dearly. You will forever be our coach. You will forever be my coach.

Finding Your Voice

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I was recently asked to speak to Hamilton High School students on the topic “Finding Your Voice.” I enjoy interacting with high school students, so after eagerly accepting the invitation, I started wondering what finding your voice really means. Is it about me? Is it about others? How do they use their voice for others? Answering these questions was an energizing opportunity for reflection.

As Miami president, it seemed that reflecting on “How Miami students find their voice” would be most relatable to students trying to decide about college and where the rest of their future would begin. My answer is that, no matter their major, every student is helped in finding their voice through a comprehensive liberal arts education at Miami, which provides a foundation that helps prepare them no matter what path in life they take.

The term “liberal arts” comes from the Latin word liber, meaning “free, unrestricted,” and an emphasis on them in learning introduces our student to the ideas and actions of human beings throughout history and across the world. In different times and places, leaders and thinkers have responded to the world around them through philosophy, literature, poetry, music, and art. This includes the voices of oppressed peoples whose messages also inspire us. They have reported the events of their time through history, elevated their ability to communicate through languages, and sought to understand the human community through political science, anthropology, and sociology. By reflecting upon this wealth of wisdom, examples, and, in some cases, cautionary tales in the liberal arts, the student learns from many voices from the past and from others experiencing their own learning journey, as they are invited to bring their own voice to join many conversations. Finding that voice depends on the kind of character, the capacity for critical thinking, and the commitment to continuous learning that they develop.

Going a step further, I realized that Miami students, alumni, faculty, and staff don’t just find their voice – they use it for others. Their voice conveys compassion, demands justice, and creates change. They empower others to add their own voices to the conversation.

It’s everywhere you look.

Daryl Baldwin is literally revitalizing the voice of the Myaamia language at the Myaamia Center. Ann Elizabeth Armstrong is bringing the strong voices of our Freedom Summer past to new generations with her interactive walking tour and app, and she gave voice to the loss of black lives by directing “Every 28 Hours,” one-minute plays last fall. The Hamilton campus Student Government Association elevated the tone of our voice with Project Civility, which has spread to all our campuses and beyond. Armstrong Student Center building services coordinator Jim Rhodes gives voice to others suffering with ALS by continuing his courageous service and being open about his condition. “Dear World” allowed us to express our voices on our skin. And our students participate in a multitude of service projects during spring break, such as the trips to Oklahoma, the Dominican Republic, Montenegro, and Panama City as well as local connections in Hamilton and Oxford, all dedicated to helping others.

We find our voice by listening to others wherever we encounter them — in class, on campus, during trips, through service learning, co-curricular experiences, student organizations and so much more. We learn to use our voice to empower others to speak.

Every person has something to contribute to others. Being able to communicate your ideas and perspectives – finding your voice – is vital for your contribution to have the most impact. The liberal arts provide a way for finding that voice through exposure to others. They teach us how to develop our character. They provide abundant material for critical thinking, decision-making, communication, and action. The habits of study, virtue, and thought continue throughout life – finding our voice, unlike finding a lost cellphone, is not an event with a finish line but an ongoing evolution that ensures we can speak effectively in the midst of changing circumstances.

Words Matter

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Some of us grew up with the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” It was a line of defense on the childhood playground, a way to rebuff verbal bullies and avoid a fistfight. It is also false. Words can hurt – sometimes more deeply and with more long-lasting effect than sticks and stones. Words can also heal, inspire, uplift, and unite. Words matter. It’s hard to imagine anything with more impact on us as individuals and on our community than how we speak to and about each other.

At Miami, The Code of Love and Honor guides what we say and do, including respecting the dignity and rights of others and “their right to hold and express disparate beliefs.” Honoring that sentiment is vital for our growth, for problem-solving, for unity, and for our success. Insensitive or insolent words divide and weaken us. Mutually respectful dialogue helps us flourish.

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to witness the importance of words first-hand. At a demonstration near the Armstrong Student Center, words of division, bias, and intolerance were used by an outside group – words that could easily have caused hurt. What happened instead was that Miami students responded with words of their own – words of acceptance, tolerance, and support for those being targeted by protestors, their fellow Miamians. What a powerful gift many of them shared by living this line of the Code: “I demonstrate Love and Honor by supporting and caring for my fellow Miamians.”

Words are the way that human beings shape the world. We each seek coherence and meaning to the vast encounters we have in our environment. Language gives us the ability to understand, but it also puts us at risk of misunderstanding. Misunderstanding one word’s meaning can lead to completely misunderstanding everything a person may be trying to say.

As anyone who has studied a second language knows, most words don’t have only one meaning; they can be interpreted many ways. One challenging task of translation is selecting the most precise equivalent for the particular text from among an array of choices. A similar challenge sometimes arises in our conversations with each other. We might hear someone make a remark that is negative in our personal vocabulary, but we shouldn’t assume that’s what they intended to convey. That’s why dialogue is indispensable. Instead of reacting to a remark with “That’s not true,” dialogue starts with “What did you mean by that?” Through dialogue, we might discover how much we have in common despite the differences in word choice.

More than ever, we need such respectful engagement in the 21st century. We’re living in an increasingly diverse world, and we’ll have to learn to talk to each other to ensure that our differences are a source of creativity, delight, and enrichment rather than division and pain. We should, for example, respect the rights of groups to choose the names that are applied to them by others, and avoid using those names in any negative way.

Our commitment to Love and Honor, our history of standing up for human equality, and our virtues of openness, respect, honesty, and generosity put Miami in a strong position to model and convene civil discourse and fruitful conversations about the great challenges facing us as individuals and as a society. Knowing words can hurt, we can choose instead to use them to heal, elevate, and unite. We are One Miami.

The World Needs Love and Honor

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Amid the excitement of moving to Oxford and beginning my first week as president of Miami, the flag at half-staff outside of Roudebush and the continuous news reports of lives cut short – club-goers in Orlando, black men in Minnesota and Louisiana, then police in Dallas, and more – was a somber reminder of the tragedy and turmoil that gripped the nation this summer.

A reflective walk for inspiration at the Freedom Summer Memorial on Miami’s Western campus renewed my hope. These times bear striking resemblance to the struggles of the 1960s. Just as those who gathered at Western in the summer of ’64 made a difference— a difference that still reverberates today — Miamians will continue to do so.

My fervent hope at Miami is for us to continuously reflect upon our values, advance our thinking to be all-inclusive, and seek unity as we progress towards a model of inclusive excellence. We must recognize the enormous power of diversity to boost creativity and innovation, to introduce fresh ideas for consideration, synthesis, and refinement.

We must aim to become a model of how to organize our community to reflect a healthy society that practices civil discourse.  We don’t have to agree, but we have to be able to have conversations where we truly listen, with respect and a genuine desire to understand.

The values summed up in our Code of Love and Honor immediately resonated with me, especially those tied to character, integrity, and respect for “the dignity of other persons”…and welcoming “a diversity of people, ideas, and experiences.” That commitment motivated our Freedom Summer predecessors, and it is fully alive today. It forms the starting point for any solution to divisions we face, here at Miami as well as globally.

In the short time I have been here, I’ve seen the power of a Miami education every day in students, faculty, staff, and alumni who are oriented toward social justice and who are passionate about making a difference. While we have much to do on our way to becoming a model for inclusive excellence, these dedicated Miamians can be our inspiration.

The flag at half-staff reminds us of how far we have to go – here at Miami and as we move on in the world – to achieve the justice and equality that we seek. The Freedom Summer Memorial reminds us that Miamians have the wisdom and understanding to remain focused on achieving justice and equality in the midst of upheaval, violence, and complexity; the empathy to inspire unity; and the courage to lead through these tumultuous times.

Love and Honor,

Greg

Group photo of attendees at the 2015 Freedom Summer Memorial conference and reunion

Attendees gather at the Freedom Summer Memorial for the 2015 conference and reunion.