Women in Philanthropy at University of Findlay is resuming their essential work of shaping and supporting important UF priorities while creating new opportunities for students! With the encouragement of President Katherine Fell, Ph.D., this group connects generations of women who are passionate about making a difference by investing in UF people and projects.
Our giving circle has successfully established an endowed scholarship and annually funds a diverse range of projects. Each year, members review proposals and listen to presentations from faculty and staff, selecting initiatives that will have a meaningful impact on the UF community.
Women play a pivotal role in philanthropy at UF, contributing through volunteer efforts, financial giving, and serving as inspiring role models for the next generation of Oilers. We are incredibly grateful for the past support from our members and warmly invite new members to join our cause.
Give Now
Members of Women in Philanthropy commit to giving $1,000 annually and are invited to attend at least three on-campus receptions each year. This is a fun and rewarding way to meet other dynamic, interesting women who enjoy being part of a community and working together to make a positive impact on UF students!
For more information on membership, please contact Shayna Pothast, Development Officer, at 419-434-5928 or via email at shayna.pothast@findlay.edu.
Together, we can make a difference!
Give NowIn 2023, she noted only 28 percent of employees in the STEM workforce are women, which Yousif attributed to “the lack of role models and mentorship.” “As educators, we can influence their journeys by offering them opportunities.” She will use the grant “to address the gender gap, empower women, and increase student-faculty interactions.” Her mentorship program will recruit three to four students and train them to build their “science identity and skills.” In addition, the students will gain two semesters of hands-on research experience, focused on synthesizing reactive catalysts for small molecule activation. Annabelle McMillan, a UF senior majoring in forensic chemistry and biology, who is assisting Dr. Yousef said she was eager to gain experience and “wanted to be in the lab.” “This research experience gave me the confidence to work in a lab and led me to become a tutor in organic chemistry,” she said, noting that her career goal is to work in a crime lab. McMillan praised Yousef for her support of female science students at UF. “We are being mentored by a successful woman in science to be proficient in the lab,” she added.
The effectiveness of weight loss drugs, such as Ozempic, Trulicity, and Victoza, make them “amazing clinical assets” in treating patients with diabetes, fatty liver disease, Parkinson’s, and helping with heart and kidney diseases, he noted. However, some patients have unpleasant side effects as the dosages increase “and their weight can rebound if they can’t tolerate the medication,” he said. Dudley said tests and screens can be done before patients take GLP-1 medications to identify genetic differences and determine how different treatments could be effective instead. Four UF professors and clinical pharmacists will work on the project along with 10 student research assistants. They want to recruit 40 patients for screening and then contribute their findings to drug company research efforts.
The Lea Gallery hosts the annual undergraduate student art show, along with a number of senior, alumni, and faculty shows, and guest exhibits. The thousands of visitors who participate in Mazza’s Funday Sundays also come through the gallery, as do the weekly school tours of the museum, she noted. “This would modernize the space and provide a professional exhibit space,” Escobedo said, adding that the previous renovations were in 2008.
Inspired by a Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education conference, the professors want to provide teaching development materials for UF faculty to build student rapport. “We want to invite, engage, and inspire students through this teamwork and continue to build a sense of community,” Denecker explained. The boxed programs can be checked out by academic departments or faculty participating in the CTE’s Teaching Partners program and will include questions, prompts, and other activities fostering ideas that can be implemented in the classroom. “These help the instructor think through what they’ll do with students, especially expectations for learning and studying,” Fedirka said. “We’re excited about the response we will get.”
For many years, Kawamura has coordinated the Cultural Connections of Hancock County program, bringing together international students attending UF and area residents, including local schoolchildren. Class visits and activities have taken place at 50 North, Birchhaven senior living community, Cory Rawson High School, and Gateway Church among other locations. The programs include games, picture books in different languages, international snacks, and the opportunity for students to speak one-on-one with area residents, he said. Additionally, the International Mother Language Day event on campus each year showcases UF students who share songs, poems, dances, and clothing from a variety of languages and cultures. “We want to create occasions for students to interact with people in many ways,” Kawamura said.
Julie Oestreich, PharmD, PhD, FAPhA
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, & Suzanne Lifer, PharmD, Associate Professor of Teaching in Pharmacy Practice, & Alexandria Freehoffer, Doctor of Pharmacy Student – Provide community members access to a pharmacist and student pharmacists in their physician’s office and offer pharmacogenomic testing and interpretation to guide medication changes.
Nicole V. Schilling, Ph.D.
Associate Professor – Provide the Center for Teaching Excellence faculty (Drs. Christine Denecker, Sarah Fedirka, Nicole Schilling, and Katrina August) with the opportunity to learn from Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education how to improve service to the University community.
Nicole Schroeder PT, DPT, NSCA-CSCS
Associate Chair of the Traditional Physical Therapy Program, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy – project titled “Graduate Student Mental Health: Environment Matters.”
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