January<\/strong><\/h2>\n![\"Dr.](\"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Puneet-Sindhwani-Aquabliation-Jan-2024-1.jpg\")
Dr. Puneet Sindhwani, chair of the UTMC Department of Urology, completed the area\u2019s first Aquablation therapy in January. The procedure uses a heat-free water jet to treat the urinary symptoms associated with enlarged prostate.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 The University of Toledo Medical Center performed the first Aquablation procedure<\/a> in northwest Ohio. The innovative and minimally invasive treatment option for enlarged prostate uses high-pressure water to relieve urinary symptoms while preserving sexual function.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 The UToledo Athletic Department announced the Leadership Fan Council<\/a>, which gives fans a stronger voice and greater perspective into the operations of the department.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo and the city of Toledo honored Dr. Martin Luther King with the 23rd annual Unity Day Celebration<\/a>. Rosa Alicia Clemente, an organizer, independent journalist, producer and scholar activist, was the keynote speaker at the virtual event.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 Black Thought, co-founder of the legendary band The Roots and a three-time Grammy Award winner, was among the featured speakers at the 40th annual Conference for Aspiring Minority Youth<\/a>.<\/p>\nFebruary
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n\u2022\u00a0 The American Astronomical Society<\/a> named Dr. Steven Federman, professor emeritus in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, among its newest class of Fellows for 2024.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 The United States Institute for Theatre Technology<\/a> chose Holly Monsos, chair of the Department of Theatre and Film, as one its 2024 Fellows.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 The University of Toledo was ranked No. 115<\/a> in the U.S. News & World Report list of 2024 best online undergraduate programs, up 35 spots from the prior year.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 Dr. Anne Medling, an assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, was chosen by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement as a 2024 Cottrell Scholar<\/a>. The annual awards recognize early-career teacher-scholars in chemistry, physics and astronomy.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Welcome-Center-Rendering.jpg\")
A new welcome center connected to Scott and Tucker halls, shown here in conceptual form, is part of an updated campus master plan that was unveiled in February.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 Dr. Ngalula Sandrine Mubenga, an assistant professor in the Department of Engineering Technology, spoke at the United Nation\u2019s headquarters<\/a> during the 9th International Day of Women and Girls Assembly.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 The Board of Trustees approved a resolution in support of an updated, $300 million campus master plan<\/a> that includes plans for a new welcome center, a state-of-the-art science building and other campus upgrades.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 Leaders from UToledo, Toledo Public Schools and Owens Community College signed a letter of intent formalizing an agreement<\/a> to work together on an initiative aimed at bringing new educational opportunities to the Scott Park Campus.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 The John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation hosted the ninth annual UToledo Invitational Sales Competition<\/a>, drawing more than 100 sales students from 35 universities nationwide.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 The College of Engineering\u2019s award-winning Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day<\/a>, held in February and March, welcomed more than 750 seventh and eighth grade girls to campus.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 Dr. Michael Boyd, professor of piano, and Dr. Jon Elhai, professor of psychology, were named Distinguished University Professors,<\/a> recognizing their achievements in teaching, research, scholarship and professional service.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo celebrated Black History month throughout February, with events that included a tour of the African American Legacy Project of Northwest Ohio<\/a> with museum founder and director Robert Smith.<\/p>\nMarch<\/strong><\/h2>\n\u2022\u00a0 The Rocket men\u2019s and women\u2019s basketball teams both claimed outright Mid-American Conference championships. It was the third straight title for the women<\/a> and the fourth straight for the men<\/a>.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo alumnus Fred Espenak<\/a> \u2014 also known as Mr. Eclipse \u2014 shared stories from his 50 years of eclipse-viewing in the Doermann Distinguished Lecture and discussed what to expect during Toledo\u2019s upcoming solar eclipse.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/WBB06143_EDITED.jpg\")
The Toledo women\u2019s basketball team captured their third consecutive outright Mid-American Conference Championship with an 83-61 victory over Kent State in March.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 The National Science Foundation presented Kennedy Doro<\/a>, an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences, and Dr. Abbas Semnani,<\/a> an associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, with Faculty Early Career Development Program awards. The five-year research awards are aimed at supporting early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 Dr. Melissa Gregory was named permanent dean<\/a> of the College of Arts and Letters following a national search. Gregory, who joined UToledo in 2002, had previously served as interim dean of the college.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 More than 160 fourth-year medical students matched into residency programs in 33 states. Celebrated at medical schools across the country, Match Day<\/a> is one of the most anticipated moments for aspiring physicians.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 The seventh annual Rocket Forward Day of Giving<\/a> raised more than $1.7 million from 2,460 donors through online donations and live event participation.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo researchers were awarded $1.2 million from the Ohio Department of Higher Education\u2019s Harmful Algal Bloom Research Initiative. The funding supports projects<\/a> aimed at mitigating harmful algal blooms, guiding wetland restoration, studying technologies for water treatment systems, evaluating the effect of climate change on nutrient runoff, and studying the health effects of cyanotoxins produced during harmful algal blooms.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 More than 600 students took part in the annual Big Event<\/a>, volunteering their time and skills at sites throughout the Toledo area. The Big Event is the largest, single-day student-run service project at UToledo.<\/p>\nApril<\/strong><\/h2>\n\u2022\u00a0 UTMC recognized national Donate Life Month, hosting a flag raising<\/a> outside the hospital and honoring individuals who chose to become living kidney donors through UTMC at a banquet.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 The inaugural UToledo Healthcare Symposium<\/a> in downtown Toledo, brought together healthcare and community leaders for a discussion on improving health through compassionate care, innovative thinking and community collaboration<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo celebrated its 87th annual Songfest<\/a>, with UToledo students dancing and singing to raise more than $20,000 for Sunshine Communities, a local nonprofit that aims to support people of all ages with developmental disabilities.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo announced a strategic realignment<\/a> of colleges to bring closer together faculty and students engaged in similar academic programs for increased collaboration. The University plans to merge the College of Nursing and College of Health and Human Services into one college and to merge the College of Arts and Letters with the Judith Herb College of Education.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo hosted thousands of visitors at Glass Bowl Stadium and on Centennial Mall for the once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse<\/a>, which shrouded Toledo in partial darkness for nearly two minutes.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 U.S. News and World Report ranked 11 UToledo graduate programs<\/a> among the best in the nation.<\/p>\n![\"Fatemeh](\"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Solar-Eclipse-Viewing-04082024-5877a.jpg\")
Fatemeh Asnaashary and daughter, Zahra, from Dearborn, Michigan, were among the hundreds of eclipse watchers in Glass Bowl Stadium in April.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 For the first time, UToledo had multiple Goldwater Scholars in the same year. Sophia Durham<\/a>, a sophomore studying biology, and Chloe Villa<\/a>, a junior majoring in biochemistry, each received the prestigious award.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 The men\u2019s tennis team knocked off No. 1 seed Western Michigan in the 2024 Mid-American Conference Tournament to claim its second consecutive tournament crown<\/a>, while the women\u2019s tennis team beat Miami to earn its first tournament championship<\/a>.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo students celebrated the Hindu festival Holi<\/a> with an event symbolizing the arrival of spring, the end of winter and the blossoming of love.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 Rockets cornerback Qyinyon Mitchell was selected No. 22 overall<\/a> in the 2024 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, becoming the first Rocket taken in the first round in two decades.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 The College of Engineering held its annual Senior Design Expo<\/a>. For the first time, the event was combined with a new Day of Research, highlighting additional student and faculty research activities in the college.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 Sheri Benton, a senior lecturer in the Department of English Language and Literature; Dr. Claire Cohen, senior lecturer in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; and Michelle Davidson, senior lecturer in the Department of English Language and Literature, were named Distinguished University Lecturers<\/a> in recognition of their commitment to advancing student learning and facilitating and supporting student success.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 RocketFest<\/a> featured a weeklong series of events and activities, including a bonfire, karaoke and stuff-a-plush as part of Student Appreciation Week.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 The UToledo Board of Trustees appointed Matt Schroeder<\/a> interim president following the departure of Dr. Gregory Postel who accepted a position at University of Cincinnati. Schroeder previously served as executive vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer.<\/p>\nMay<\/strong><\/h2>\n\u2022\u00a0 Barend Botha secured his second straight conference title<\/a> in men\u2019s golf, becoming the first to do so in more than 30 years.<\/p>\n![\"Rocky](\"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/AA9I0032-ROCKY-2024-Spring-Commencement-MAIN.jpg\")
Rocky fist bumps Sophie Fisher during the spring commencement ceremony in May. Fisher graduated cum laude with a bachelor\u2019s degree in university studies from University College.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 UToledo celebrated spring commencement<\/a> conferring more than 2,500 degrees and graduate certificates throughout the weekend, including 189 doctoral, 558 master\u2019s, 1,507 bachelor\u2019s and 83 associate\u2019s degrees, as well as 112 juris doctors.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo Health celebrated its new, 37-foot-long mobile health unit<\/a>. The custom-built vehicle has two exam rooms, a restroom and a small waiting room on board.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo and ProMedica Health System signed a new 10-year Academic Affiliation Agreement<\/a> to support medical education in the greater Toledo community for the next decade.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 Dr. Natasha Johnson, an assistant professor in the Department of Education, is leading a $2.3 million initiative<\/a> funded by the National Science Foundation\u2019s Robert Noyce Scholarship Program to support sixth through 12th grade science teachers in Ohio and Kentucky.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo became the first school<\/a> to receive both the Jacoby Trophy as the top women\u2019s athletic program and the Reese Trophy as the top men\u2019s athletic program in the same year. UToledo has earned the Jacoby trophy for three straight years.<\/p>\nJune<\/strong><\/h2>\n![\"Dr.](\"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/WATER-CRISIS-CENTER-SIDE-09152023-3077.jpg\")
Dr. David Kennedy, left, and Dr. Steven Haller, associate professors of medicine, are researching the health effect of exposure to aerosolized toxins from Lake Erie algal blooms.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 UToledo and the University of Michigan were chosen by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation to lead the Great Lakes Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health<\/a>, which is dedicated to studying harmful algal blooms in and around the Great Lakes.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 The UToledo Board of Trustees adopted a $1 billion operating budget<\/a> for fiscal year 2025.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UTMC welcomed cancer survivors<\/a> and their supporters and loved ones to a survivorship celebration held in concert with National Cancer Survivors Month.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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July<\/strong><\/h2>\n\u2022\u00a0 The Ohio Department of Development announced UToledo would serve as one of the lead academic partners for a $31.3 million project to establish the Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub<\/a>, which is expected to create 1,600 new jobs and contribute $284 million to the local economy over the next five years.<\/p>\n![\"Interim](\"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Matt-Schroeder-Innovation-Hub-07012024-4265.jpg\")
Interim President Matt Schroeder speaks during a July news conference with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announcing the new Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 UToledo announced it would add women\u2019s rowing<\/a> as the school\u2019s 17th varsity sport beginning in the 2025-26 academic year. It is the first new varsity sport since women\u2019s soccer was added in 1995.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo launched a first-of-its-kind study\u00a0<\/a>to identify the health effects of airborne microcystin exposure in individuals who spend significant time near Lake Erie. The study, part of the awarded five-year, $6.5 million federal grant that funds the Great Lakes Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health, will follow 200 volunteers over the next five years.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo launched its new The Power To Do<\/a> brand, bringing the University\u2019s academic and clinical operations together under one identity. The new brand highlights the power of UToledo\u2019s teaching, research and care through the stories of faculty experts, successful students and alumni, and dedicated staff through slice-of-life photography and bold type in headlines that pull TO DO out of UTOLEDO for ownable and impactful messaging.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo broke ground on a new pedestrian bridge<\/a> over Douglas Road that will more directly connect the University\u2019s engineering buildings to the rest of Main Campus, improving safety for students, staff and visitors.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo hosted its 31st annual Art on the Mall<\/a>, spotlighting more than 100 artists from around the country and artwork that includes acrylic, glass, pen and ink, oil, mixed media, metals, photography, ceramics and jewelry for viewing and purchase.<\/p>\n![\"Dania](\"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Art-on-the-Mall-Dania-Gnida-07282024-6304.jpg\")
Dania Gnida, from Toledo, looks at Brenda Guerra\u2019s pottery booth during July\u2019s 31st annual Art on the Mall.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 UToledo and the Glass Bowl were included in EA Sports College Football 25<\/a>, allowing players of the long-awaited game take the field as the Rockets.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo and Adrian College announced a new joint degree agreement<\/a> that creates a pathway for students to simultaneously earn a juris doctor from UToledo and a master of arts in criminal justice from Adrian College.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo marked the 10-year anniversary of Toledo\u2019s water crisis with a series of stories<\/a> detailing UToledo\u2019s commitment to protecting the region\u2019s drinking water and its water quality research efforts over the past decade.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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August<\/strong><\/h2>\n\u2022\u00a0 The National Science foundation awarded UToledo nearly $1 million to establish a mechatronics club<\/a> for students at Toledo Public Schools. UToledo is collaborating with Toledo Public Schools, Owens Community College and Dana Inc. on the project.<\/p>\n![\"Interim](\"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Matt-Schroeder-Amaiya-Thomas-Move-In-08222024-2763.jpg\")
Interim President Matt Schroeder helps Amaiya Thomas, an incoming freshman who will be studying nursing, push her cart of belongings into Parks Tower during August move-in.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 UTMC announced it received the Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence<\/a> designation from the Infectious Diseases Society of America. UTMC is the only hospital in Toledo to be recognized with the prestigious designation and one of fewer than 200 facilities nationwide.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo hosted Employee Appreciation Summerfest 2024<\/a> on Health Science Campus with a free meal, games, raffle prizes, music and a photo booth.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 The Toledo football program shared the joy of victory with approximately 35 special needs students at its ninth annual \u201cVictory Day\u201d<\/a> inside the Fetterman Training Center.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo celebrated the return of students with its annual Welcome Weekend<\/a> featuring a range of opportunities for new and returning students to get involved and have fun on campus.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo and the city of Toledo celebrated Rocket Week<\/a> ahead of the home football opener against Duquesne with a downtown flag-raising ceremony, an on-campus pep rally and other events.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 Rocket Athletics received its third straight Cartwright Award<\/a> from the Mid-American Conference, recognizing its excellence in academics, athletics and citizenship. UToledo is the first school to win the award in three consecutive seasons.<\/p>\nSeptember<\/strong><\/h2>\n![\"Dr.](\"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/08092024-0843_Ellingson-Natakumbura.jpg\")
Dr. Randall Ellingson, left, Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization Endowed Chair, leads a research project announced in September that will bring up to $15 million to UToledo.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 UToledo will receive up to $15 million from the Air Force Research Laboratory to develop new ways to harvest solar energy in outer space<\/a>. The project, led by Dr. Randall Ellingson, professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization Endowed Chair, builds UToledo\u2019s expertise in thin-film solar technology.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 Dr. Ellen Pullins, the Schmidt Research Professor of Sales and Sales Management and a professor of marketing in the John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation, received a Fulbright Specialist award<\/a> to complete a project at University of Eastern Finland. Pullins previously spent the 2014-15 academic year in Finland as a Fulbright Scholar.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 The Military Service Center and the Student Veterans of America UToledo chapter hosted the sixth annual 22 Pushup Challenge<\/a>, raising awareness of veteran suicide during National Suicide Awareness Month.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 The National Institutes of Health<\/a> awarded more than $3.8 million to Dr. Bina Joe, a Distinguished University Professor and chair of the UToledo Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, for research examining how bacteria-driven changes to bile acids in the gut affect blood pressure.<\/p>\n![\"Staff](\"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/22-Pushup-Challenge-09112024-8637.jpg\")
Staff Sgt. Dustin McGee, right, with Ohio Air National Guard\u2019s 180th Fighter Wing smiles as he watches Aaron Smith, a junior studying exercise science, complete 22 pushups at the sixth annual 22 Pushup Challenge in September.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 UToledo hosted the annual International Human Trafficking & Social Justice Conference<\/a>. The event, in its 21st year, is the largest academic conference of its type in the world.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 Dr. Kennedy Doro received the American Geophysical Union\u2019s 2024 Near-Surface Geophysics Early Career Achievement Award<\/a>, recognizing his significant contributions to the field as an early-career researcher.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 U.S. News and World Report again ranked UToledo as one of the best colleges in the country<\/a>, with the University receiving positive marks in the rankings for improvements in its average six-year graduation rate, first-year retention rate and the scholarly work of its faculty.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 Dr. Bina Joe, a trailblazing hypertension researcher whose work established the link between gut bacteria and blood pressure regulation, received the prestigious Excellence in Hypertension Research Award<\/a> from the American Heart Association.<\/p>\nOctober
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo unveiled a new Mascot Plaza<\/a> featuring bronze statutes of Rocky and Rocksy during a pep rally on Centennial Mall that was part of a week-long celebration leading up to the of the Edward C. and Helen G. Schmakel Homecoming Parade and 2024 Homecoming game against Miami.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 The Athletic Department received a $4 million gift<\/a> from Roy and Marcia Arms. The cash gift is the second largest in Rocket Athletics history.<\/p>\n![\"Rocky](\"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Mascot-Plaza-10012024-4714.jpg\")
Rocky and Rocksy, depicted in life-sized bronze statues, strike a camera-ready pose along with UToledo officials, former mascots and the real-life Rocky and Rocksy on Centennial Mall ahead of the October Homecoming football game.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 UToledo marked the completion of a new greenspace<\/a> in front of the College of Engineering\u2019s Nitschke Hall. The project, which began in June with the demolition of Palmer Hall, followed a $22 million renovation of the North Engineering Building.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo welcomed about 500 local high school students to campus Oct. 3 for Finance 101<\/a>, an interactive game developed by the Northwest Ohio Credit Union Alliance that\u2019s designed to teach them about financial literacy.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo and BGSU joined together for the annual \u201cRuck the Ball\u201d<\/a> event, where members of Student Veterans of American from both schools make the 22-mile march from BGSU to UToledo to deliver the game ball for the Battle of I-75 as a way to raise awareness of veteran suicide.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo Health hosted its second annual trunk-or-treat event<\/a> outside the Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center. The event drew nearly 600 children.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 Interim president Matt Schroeder laid out his vision for UToledo to be the regional force powering opportunities to learn, care, work and play during the annual State of the University<\/a><\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 The University celebrated its researchers receiving more than $72.2 million in external awards<\/a> during the 2024 fiscal year \u2014 the second highest amount in UToledo\u2019s history.<\/p>\nNovember<\/strong><\/h2>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo hosted the 24th annual Great Lakes Water Conference<\/a>, with this year\u2019s event focusing on regional implications of climate-related migration.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Robert-Smith-10292024-3447.jpg\")
A $3.7 million federally funded study announced in November led by Dr. Robert Smith, professor and chair of the Department of Neurosciences and Psychiatry, aims to unlock new clues about the starting point and progression of Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 Dan Barbee was announced as the new chief executive officer<\/a> of The University of Toledo Medical Center. Barbee previously led UTMC from 2016 to 2020.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 A new study of Alzheimer\u2019s disease led by Dr. Robert Smith, professor and chair of the Department of Neurosciences and Psychiatry, received nearly $4 million from the National Institute on Aging<\/a>. The project seeks to unlock new clues about the starting point and progression of Alzheimer\u2019s disease by taking a clean-slate approach to the disease.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 The men\u2019s and women\u2019s cross country teams both captured MAC championships. The women\u2019s team, led by first-place finisher Mercy Kinyanjui, claimed its fourth consecutive<\/a> conference title, while the men, led by Dominic Serem\u2019s first-place finish, earned their first ever<\/a> conference title.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo was again named one of the best schools in the country for its support of military-connected students by Military Times<\/a>. The University ranked second in Ohio and 10th in the Midwest. UToledo also hosted its 20th annual Veterans Appreciation Breakfast and Resource Fair<\/a> on Veteran\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n![\"Dr.](\"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Julie-Fischer-Kinney-Thanksgiving-11252024-9790.jpg\")
Dr. Julie Fischer-Kinney, executive director of student experience, adds whipped cream to the pie of Kristi Shrestha, a graduate student in chemistry during the President\u2019s Thanksgiving Lunch in November.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 UTMC earned\u00a0a \u201cB\u201d hospital safety grade<\/a> in the most recent report from the Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit focused on improving patient safety. UTMC is Leapfrog\u2019s highest-ranked hospital in the greater Toledo area.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo hosted the annual President\u2019s Thanksgiving Lunch<\/a> in Thompson Student Union Auditorium, serving up a traditional Thanksgiving meal to students and employees.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 Two professors were again named among the world\u2019s most influential researchers<\/a> by the data analytics firm Clarivate. Dr. Jon Elhai, a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Psychology, and Dr. Yanfa Yan, a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, also were listed among Clarivate\u2019s 2023 Highly Cited Researchers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
December<\/strong><\/h2>\n\u2022\u00a0 UToledo and The Blade partnered to launch a new thought leadership series called Perspectives<\/a>, which kicked off with a panel discussion on modern leadership.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 More than 70 teams of engineering students presented their senior design products at the Fall Senior Design Expo<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Eamon](\"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Eamon-King-11182024-6846a.jpg\")
Eamon King, the scientific glassblower at UToledo, displays in an example of the fruit-filled bowls he created that will be awarded to the college football team that wins the Orange Bowl on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 Eamon King, who works as a scientific glassblower in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, was selected to fabricate the glass bowls<\/a> presented to the winner of the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9, 2025.<\/p>\n\u2022\u00a0 Dr. Jianmin Zhang, a professor in the Department of Cell and Cancer Biology, is leading a $2.8 million National Cancer Institute project looking at the tumor microenvironment<\/a> in triple negative breast cancer.<\/p>\n
Dr. Puneet Sindhwani, chair of the UTMC Department of Urology, completed the area\u2019s first Aquablation therapy in January. The procedure uses a heat-free water jet to treat the urinary symptoms associated with enlarged prostate.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0 The University of Toledo Medical Center performed the first Aquablation procedure<\/a> in northwest Ohio. The innovative and minimally invasive treatment option for enlarged prostate uses high-pressure water to relieve urinary symptoms while preserving sexual function.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The UToledo Athletic Department announced the Leadership Fan Council<\/a>, which gives fans a stronger voice and greater perspective into the operations of the department.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo and the city of Toledo honored Dr. Martin Luther King with the 23rd annual Unity Day Celebration<\/a>. Rosa Alicia Clemente, an organizer, independent journalist, producer and scholar activist, was the keynote speaker at the virtual event.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 Black Thought, co-founder of the legendary band The Roots and a three-time Grammy Award winner, was among the featured speakers at the 40th annual Conference for Aspiring Minority Youth<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The American Astronomical Society<\/a> named Dr. Steven Federman, professor emeritus in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, among its newest class of Fellows for 2024.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The United States Institute for Theatre Technology<\/a> chose Holly Monsos, chair of the Department of Theatre and Film, as one its 2024 Fellows.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The University of Toledo was ranked No. 115<\/a> in the U.S. News & World Report list of 2024 best online undergraduate programs, up 35 spots from the prior year.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 Dr. Anne Medling, an assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, was chosen by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement as a 2024 Cottrell Scholar<\/a>. The annual awards recognize early-career teacher-scholars in chemistry, physics and astronomy.<\/p>\n A new welcome center connected to Scott and Tucker halls, shown here in conceptual form, is part of an updated campus master plan that was unveiled in February.<\/p><\/div>\n \u2022\u00a0 Dr. Ngalula Sandrine Mubenga, an assistant professor in the Department of Engineering Technology, spoke at the United Nation\u2019s headquarters<\/a> during the 9th International Day of Women and Girls Assembly.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The Board of Trustees approved a resolution in support of an updated, $300 million campus master plan<\/a> that includes plans for a new welcome center, a state-of-the-art science building and other campus upgrades.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 Leaders from UToledo, Toledo Public Schools and Owens Community College signed a letter of intent formalizing an agreement<\/a> to work together on an initiative aimed at bringing new educational opportunities to the Scott Park Campus.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation hosted the ninth annual UToledo Invitational Sales Competition<\/a>, drawing more than 100 sales students from 35 universities nationwide.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The College of Engineering\u2019s award-winning Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day<\/a>, held in February and March, welcomed more than 750 seventh and eighth grade girls to campus.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 Dr. Michael Boyd, professor of piano, and Dr. Jon Elhai, professor of psychology, were named Distinguished University Professors,<\/a> recognizing their achievements in teaching, research, scholarship and professional service.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo celebrated Black History month throughout February, with events that included a tour of the African American Legacy Project of Northwest Ohio<\/a> with museum founder and director Robert Smith.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The Rocket men\u2019s and women\u2019s basketball teams both claimed outright Mid-American Conference championships. It was the third straight title for the women<\/a> and the fourth straight for the men<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo alumnus Fred Espenak<\/a> \u2014 also known as Mr. Eclipse \u2014 shared stories from his 50 years of eclipse-viewing in the Doermann Distinguished Lecture and discussed what to expect during Toledo\u2019s upcoming solar eclipse.<\/p>\n The Toledo women\u2019s basketball team captured their third consecutive outright Mid-American Conference Championship with an 83-61 victory over Kent State in March.<\/p><\/div>\n \u2022\u00a0 The National Science Foundation presented Kennedy Doro<\/a>, an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences, and Dr. Abbas Semnani,<\/a> an associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, with Faculty Early Career Development Program awards. The five-year research awards are aimed at supporting early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 Dr. Melissa Gregory was named permanent dean<\/a> of the College of Arts and Letters following a national search. Gregory, who joined UToledo in 2002, had previously served as interim dean of the college.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 More than 160 fourth-year medical students matched into residency programs in 33 states. Celebrated at medical schools across the country, Match Day<\/a> is one of the most anticipated moments for aspiring physicians.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The seventh annual Rocket Forward Day of Giving<\/a> raised more than $1.7 million from 2,460 donors through online donations and live event participation.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo researchers were awarded $1.2 million from the Ohio Department of Higher Education\u2019s Harmful Algal Bloom Research Initiative. The funding supports projects<\/a> aimed at mitigating harmful algal blooms, guiding wetland restoration, studying technologies for water treatment systems, evaluating the effect of climate change on nutrient runoff, and studying the health effects of cyanotoxins produced during harmful algal blooms.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 More than 600 students took part in the annual Big Event<\/a>, volunteering their time and skills at sites throughout the Toledo area. The Big Event is the largest, single-day student-run service project at UToledo.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UTMC recognized national Donate Life Month, hosting a flag raising<\/a> outside the hospital and honoring individuals who chose to become living kidney donors through UTMC at a banquet.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The inaugural UToledo Healthcare Symposium<\/a> in downtown Toledo, brought together healthcare and community leaders for a discussion on improving health through compassionate care, innovative thinking and community collaboration<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo celebrated its 87th annual Songfest<\/a>, with UToledo students dancing and singing to raise more than $20,000 for Sunshine Communities, a local nonprofit that aims to support people of all ages with developmental disabilities.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo announced a strategic realignment<\/a> of colleges to bring closer together faculty and students engaged in similar academic programs for increased collaboration. The University plans to merge the College of Nursing and College of Health and Human Services into one college and to merge the College of Arts and Letters with the Judith Herb College of Education.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo hosted thousands of visitors at Glass Bowl Stadium and on Centennial Mall for the once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse<\/a>, which shrouded Toledo in partial darkness for nearly two minutes.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 U.S. News and World Report ranked 11 UToledo graduate programs<\/a> among the best in the nation.<\/p>\n Fatemeh Asnaashary and daughter, Zahra, from Dearborn, Michigan, were among the hundreds of eclipse watchers in Glass Bowl Stadium in April.<\/p><\/div>\n \u2022\u00a0 For the first time, UToledo had multiple Goldwater Scholars in the same year. Sophia Durham<\/a>, a sophomore studying biology, and Chloe Villa<\/a>, a junior majoring in biochemistry, each received the prestigious award.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The men\u2019s tennis team knocked off No. 1 seed Western Michigan in the 2024 Mid-American Conference Tournament to claim its second consecutive tournament crown<\/a>, while the women\u2019s tennis team beat Miami to earn its first tournament championship<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo students celebrated the Hindu festival Holi<\/a> with an event symbolizing the arrival of spring, the end of winter and the blossoming of love.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 Rockets cornerback Qyinyon Mitchell was selected No. 22 overall<\/a> in the 2024 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, becoming the first Rocket taken in the first round in two decades.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The College of Engineering held its annual Senior Design Expo<\/a>. For the first time, the event was combined with a new Day of Research, highlighting additional student and faculty research activities in the college.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 Sheri Benton, a senior lecturer in the Department of English Language and Literature; Dr. Claire Cohen, senior lecturer in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; and Michelle Davidson, senior lecturer in the Department of English Language and Literature, were named Distinguished University Lecturers<\/a> in recognition of their commitment to advancing student learning and facilitating and supporting student success.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 RocketFest<\/a> featured a weeklong series of events and activities, including a bonfire, karaoke and stuff-a-plush as part of Student Appreciation Week.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The UToledo Board of Trustees appointed Matt Schroeder<\/a> interim president following the departure of Dr. Gregory Postel who accepted a position at University of Cincinnati. Schroeder previously served as executive vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 Barend Botha secured his second straight conference title<\/a> in men\u2019s golf, becoming the first to do so in more than 30 years.<\/p>\n Rocky fist bumps Sophie Fisher during the spring commencement ceremony in May. Fisher graduated cum laude with a bachelor\u2019s degree in university studies from University College.<\/p><\/div>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo celebrated spring commencement<\/a> conferring more than 2,500 degrees and graduate certificates throughout the weekend, including 189 doctoral, 558 master\u2019s, 1,507 bachelor\u2019s and 83 associate\u2019s degrees, as well as 112 juris doctors.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo Health celebrated its new, 37-foot-long mobile health unit<\/a>. The custom-built vehicle has two exam rooms, a restroom and a small waiting room on board.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo and ProMedica Health System signed a new 10-year Academic Affiliation Agreement<\/a> to support medical education in the greater Toledo community for the next decade.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 Dr. Natasha Johnson, an assistant professor in the Department of Education, is leading a $2.3 million initiative<\/a> funded by the National Science Foundation\u2019s Robert Noyce Scholarship Program to support sixth through 12th grade science teachers in Ohio and Kentucky.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo became the first school<\/a> to receive both the Jacoby Trophy as the top women\u2019s athletic program and the Reese Trophy as the top men\u2019s athletic program in the same year. UToledo has earned the Jacoby trophy for three straight years.<\/p>\n Dr. David Kennedy, left, and Dr. Steven Haller, associate professors of medicine, are researching the health effect of exposure to aerosolized toxins from Lake Erie algal blooms.<\/p><\/div>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo and the University of Michigan were chosen by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation to lead the Great Lakes Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health<\/a>, which is dedicated to studying harmful algal blooms in and around the Great Lakes.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The UToledo Board of Trustees adopted a $1 billion operating budget<\/a> for fiscal year 2025.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UTMC welcomed cancer survivors<\/a> and their supporters and loved ones to a survivorship celebration held in concert with National Cancer Survivors Month.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The Ohio Department of Development announced UToledo would serve as one of the lead academic partners for a $31.3 million project to establish the Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub<\/a>, which is expected to create 1,600 new jobs and contribute $284 million to the local economy over the next five years.<\/p>\n Interim President Matt Schroeder speaks during a July news conference with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announcing the new Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub.<\/p><\/div>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo announced it would add women\u2019s rowing<\/a> as the school\u2019s 17th varsity sport beginning in the 2025-26 academic year. It is the first new varsity sport since women\u2019s soccer was added in 1995.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo launched a first-of-its-kind study\u00a0<\/a>to identify the health effects of airborne microcystin exposure in individuals who spend significant time near Lake Erie. The study, part of the awarded five-year, $6.5 million federal grant that funds the Great Lakes Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health, will follow 200 volunteers over the next five years.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo launched its new The Power To Do<\/a> brand, bringing the University\u2019s academic and clinical operations together under one identity. The new brand highlights the power of UToledo\u2019s teaching, research and care through the stories of faculty experts, successful students and alumni, and dedicated staff through slice-of-life photography and bold type in headlines that pull TO DO out of UTOLEDO for ownable and impactful messaging.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo broke ground on a new pedestrian bridge<\/a> over Douglas Road that will more directly connect the University\u2019s engineering buildings to the rest of Main Campus, improving safety for students, staff and visitors.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo hosted its 31st annual Art on the Mall<\/a>, spotlighting more than 100 artists from around the country and artwork that includes acrylic, glass, pen and ink, oil, mixed media, metals, photography, ceramics and jewelry for viewing and purchase.<\/p>\n Dania Gnida, from Toledo, looks at Brenda Guerra\u2019s pottery booth during July\u2019s 31st annual Art on the Mall.<\/p><\/div>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo and the Glass Bowl were included in EA Sports College Football 25<\/a>, allowing players of the long-awaited game take the field as the Rockets.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo and Adrian College announced a new joint degree agreement<\/a> that creates a pathway for students to simultaneously earn a juris doctor from UToledo and a master of arts in criminal justice from Adrian College.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo marked the 10-year anniversary of Toledo\u2019s water crisis with a series of stories<\/a> detailing UToledo\u2019s commitment to protecting the region\u2019s drinking water and its water quality research efforts over the past decade.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The National Science foundation awarded UToledo nearly $1 million to establish a mechatronics club<\/a> for students at Toledo Public Schools. UToledo is collaborating with Toledo Public Schools, Owens Community College and Dana Inc. on the project.<\/p>\n Interim President Matt Schroeder helps Amaiya Thomas, an incoming freshman who will be studying nursing, push her cart of belongings into Parks Tower during August move-in.<\/p><\/div>\n \u2022\u00a0 UTMC announced it received the Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence<\/a> designation from the Infectious Diseases Society of America. UTMC is the only hospital in Toledo to be recognized with the prestigious designation and one of fewer than 200 facilities nationwide.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo hosted Employee Appreciation Summerfest 2024<\/a> on Health Science Campus with a free meal, games, raffle prizes, music and a photo booth.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The Toledo football program shared the joy of victory with approximately 35 special needs students at its ninth annual \u201cVictory Day\u201d<\/a> inside the Fetterman Training Center.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo celebrated the return of students with its annual Welcome Weekend<\/a> featuring a range of opportunities for new and returning students to get involved and have fun on campus.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo and the city of Toledo celebrated Rocket Week<\/a> ahead of the home football opener against Duquesne with a downtown flag-raising ceremony, an on-campus pep rally and other events.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 Rocket Athletics received its third straight Cartwright Award<\/a> from the Mid-American Conference, recognizing its excellence in academics, athletics and citizenship. UToledo is the first school to win the award in three consecutive seasons.<\/p>\n Dr. Randall Ellingson, left, Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization Endowed Chair, leads a research project announced in September that will bring up to $15 million to UToledo.<\/p><\/div>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo will receive up to $15 million from the Air Force Research Laboratory to develop new ways to harvest solar energy in outer space<\/a>. The project, led by Dr. Randall Ellingson, professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization Endowed Chair, builds UToledo\u2019s expertise in thin-film solar technology.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 Dr. Ellen Pullins, the Schmidt Research Professor of Sales and Sales Management and a professor of marketing in the John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation, received a Fulbright Specialist award<\/a> to complete a project at University of Eastern Finland. Pullins previously spent the 2014-15 academic year in Finland as a Fulbright Scholar.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The Military Service Center and the Student Veterans of America UToledo chapter hosted the sixth annual 22 Pushup Challenge<\/a>, raising awareness of veteran suicide during National Suicide Awareness Month.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The National Institutes of Health<\/a> awarded more than $3.8 million to Dr. Bina Joe, a Distinguished University Professor and chair of the UToledo Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, for research examining how bacteria-driven changes to bile acids in the gut affect blood pressure.<\/p>\n Staff Sgt. Dustin McGee, right, with Ohio Air National Guard\u2019s 180th Fighter Wing smiles as he watches Aaron Smith, a junior studying exercise science, complete 22 pushups at the sixth annual 22 Pushup Challenge in September.<\/p><\/div>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo hosted the annual International Human Trafficking & Social Justice Conference<\/a>. The event, in its 21st year, is the largest academic conference of its type in the world.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 Dr. Kennedy Doro received the American Geophysical Union\u2019s 2024 Near-Surface Geophysics Early Career Achievement Award<\/a>, recognizing his significant contributions to the field as an early-career researcher.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 U.S. News and World Report again ranked UToledo as one of the best colleges in the country<\/a>, with the University receiving positive marks in the rankings for improvements in its average six-year graduation rate, first-year retention rate and the scholarly work of its faculty.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 Dr. Bina Joe, a trailblazing hypertension researcher whose work established the link between gut bacteria and blood pressure regulation, received the prestigious Excellence in Hypertension Research Award<\/a> from the American Heart Association.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo unveiled a new Mascot Plaza<\/a> featuring bronze statutes of Rocky and Rocksy during a pep rally on Centennial Mall that was part of a week-long celebration leading up to the of the Edward C. and Helen G. Schmakel Homecoming Parade and 2024 Homecoming game against Miami.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The Athletic Department received a $4 million gift<\/a> from Roy and Marcia Arms. The cash gift is the second largest in Rocket Athletics history.<\/p>\n Rocky and Rocksy, depicted in life-sized bronze statues, strike a camera-ready pose along with UToledo officials, former mascots and the real-life Rocky and Rocksy on Centennial Mall ahead of the October Homecoming football game.<\/p><\/div>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo marked the completion of a new greenspace<\/a> in front of the College of Engineering\u2019s Nitschke Hall. The project, which began in June with the demolition of Palmer Hall, followed a $22 million renovation of the North Engineering Building.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo welcomed about 500 local high school students to campus Oct. 3 for Finance 101<\/a>, an interactive game developed by the Northwest Ohio Credit Union Alliance that\u2019s designed to teach them about financial literacy.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo and BGSU joined together for the annual \u201cRuck the Ball\u201d<\/a> event, where members of Student Veterans of American from both schools make the 22-mile march from BGSU to UToledo to deliver the game ball for the Battle of I-75 as a way to raise awareness of veteran suicide.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo Health hosted its second annual trunk-or-treat event<\/a> outside the Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center. The event drew nearly 600 children.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 Interim president Matt Schroeder laid out his vision for UToledo to be the regional force powering opportunities to learn, care, work and play during the annual State of the University<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The University celebrated its researchers receiving more than $72.2 million in external awards<\/a> during the 2024 fiscal year \u2014 the second highest amount in UToledo\u2019s history.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo hosted the 24th annual Great Lakes Water Conference<\/a>, with this year\u2019s event focusing on regional implications of climate-related migration.<\/p>\n A $3.7 million federally funded study announced in November led by Dr. Robert Smith, professor and chair of the Department of Neurosciences and Psychiatry, aims to unlock new clues about the starting point and progression of Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p><\/div>\n \u2022\u00a0 Dan Barbee was announced as the new chief executive officer<\/a> of The University of Toledo Medical Center. Barbee previously led UTMC from 2016 to 2020.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 A new study of Alzheimer\u2019s disease led by Dr. Robert Smith, professor and chair of the Department of Neurosciences and Psychiatry, received nearly $4 million from the National Institute on Aging<\/a>. The project seeks to unlock new clues about the starting point and progression of Alzheimer\u2019s disease by taking a clean-slate approach to the disease.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 The men\u2019s and women\u2019s cross country teams both captured MAC championships. The women\u2019s team, led by first-place finisher Mercy Kinyanjui, claimed its fourth consecutive<\/a> conference title, while the men, led by Dominic Serem\u2019s first-place finish, earned their first ever<\/a> conference title.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo was again named one of the best schools in the country for its support of military-connected students by Military Times<\/a>. The University ranked second in Ohio and 10th in the Midwest. UToledo also hosted its 20th annual Veterans Appreciation Breakfast and Resource Fair<\/a> on Veteran\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n Dr. Julie Fischer-Kinney, executive director of student experience, adds whipped cream to the pie of Kristi Shrestha, a graduate student in chemistry during the President\u2019s Thanksgiving Lunch in November.<\/p><\/div>\n \u2022\u00a0 UTMC earned\u00a0a \u201cB\u201d hospital safety grade<\/a> in the most recent report from the Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit focused on improving patient safety. UTMC is Leapfrog\u2019s highest-ranked hospital in the greater Toledo area.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo hosted the annual President\u2019s Thanksgiving Lunch<\/a> in Thompson Student Union Auditorium, serving up a traditional Thanksgiving meal to students and employees.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 Two professors were again named among the world\u2019s most influential researchers<\/a> by the data analytics firm Clarivate. Dr. Jon Elhai, a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Psychology, and Dr. Yanfa Yan, a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, also were listed among Clarivate\u2019s 2023 Highly Cited Researchers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 UToledo and The Blade partnered to launch a new thought leadership series called Perspectives<\/a>, which kicked off with a panel discussion on modern leadership.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 More than 70 teams of engineering students presented their senior design products at the Fall Senior Design Expo<\/a>.<\/p>\n Eamon King, the scientific glassblower at UToledo, displays in an example of the fruit-filled bowls he created that will be awarded to the college football team that wins the Orange Bowl on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025.<\/p><\/div>\n \u2022\u00a0 Eamon King, who works as a scientific glassblower in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, was selected to fabricate the glass bowls<\/a> presented to the winner of the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9, 2025.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 Dr. Jianmin Zhang, a professor in the Department of Cell and Cancer Biology, is leading a $2.8 million National Cancer Institute project looking at the tumor microenvironment<\/a> in triple negative breast cancer.<\/p>\nFebruary
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