Students on the University’s Health Science Campus have a new space to relax, study and catch up on email with the opening of a new student lounge in the Mulford Library Annex.
UToledo Interim President Gregory Postel and UToledo Medical Student Council President Samantha Auchauer cut the ribbon on the new student lounge on Health Science Campus. They were joined by, from left, Bryan Pyles, senior associate dean for finance and administration in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences; Dr. Christopher Cooper, dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, executive vice president for clinical affairs and vice provost for educational health affairs; Dr. Linda Lewandowski, dean of the College of Nursing and vice provost for health affairs for interprofessional and community partnerships; Dr. Cheryl McCullumsmith, professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry; Dr. Linda Speer, professor and chair of the Department of Family Medicine; and Dr. Kris Brickman, chief physician executive for UT Physicians and professor and senior associate dean for innovation in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences.
Located in the area previously known as the Mulford Café, the space provides comfortable seating, study tables, computer terminals, a microwave and beverage vending. The south wall of the space features floor-to-ceiling windows and glass patio doors that provide scenic views of the ravine running through the campus.
A generous donation from UT Physicians helped to pay for remodeling costs and to fill the space with furnishings and amenities to provide a relaxing atmosphere.
“One common takeaway we hear in conversations with our students is a desire for more space to study and relax outside of the library,” said Dr. Christopher Cooper, dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, executive vice president for clinical affairs and vice provost for vice provost for educational health affairs. “We’re very appreciative that UT Physicians stepped in with a generous contribution to help us make it a reality for students in all of the health science programs on this campus.”
The lounge opened in January when students returned to campus for spring semester, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 4, celebrated the new space with remarks from UToledo Interim President Gregory Postel, Dr. Cooper and UToledo Medical Student Council President Samantha Auchauer.
“I know that the students here are really going to appreciate this space because it had such a wonderful design that can be used to study alone, collaborate or relax,” Auchauer said. “We’re really grateful to the UT Physician group for funding such a beautiful space.”
