“Changing Lives, Changing Communities” announced as university theme at convocation honoring faculty

Wright State President David R. Hopkins delivered his State of the University Address during University Convocation.

Changing Lives, Changing Communities was identified as this year’s university theme by President David R. Hopkins during his State of the University Address.

“It’s going to be an exciting year,” Hopkins told students, faculty members and administrators during the convocation Sept. 13 in the Student Union Apollo Room. “What we’re doing is important, important work here at Wright State. We’re changing lives every day through education. We’re changing lives every day through our research.”

Hopkins noted that Wright State was recently ranked No. 8 in the nation for community service by the Washington Monthly magazine.

“We should be very proud of that,” he said.

Hopkins said Wright State is approaching the record student enrollment it achieved last year and that student credit hours for this fall are actually up 1 percent. He also touched on past accomplishments.

Hopkins noted the opening of a student food pantry, the welcoming of three new deans and the announcement that Wright State will host the National Science Olympiad Tournament in 2013. He also applauded the award of $11.4 million in state funding for aerospace and defense workforce development and creation of an unusual business model in which Wright State will embed a faculty member at Mound Laser & Photonics Center to accelerate the commercialization of research.

“I hope we will continue to renew our focus on promoting economic growth of our region and enhance the quality of life,” Hopkins said.

The convocation was also an opportunity for colleges to showcase initiatives. Among the exhibits was one displayed by the College of Education and Human Services illustrating how some students will do their student teaching at elementary schools in poverty-stricken rural areas, as well as those in the cities.

“What we want to do is expose our teacher candidates to poverty in all different forms,” said Jack McKnight, partnership coordinator in the college’s Office of Partnerships and Field Experience. “We just want them to understand what these kids are going through and where they’re coming from and the communities they live in. They’re culturally totally different. But there is still the issue of poverty.”

During the convocation, recipients of this year’s Faculty Awards for Excellence were recognized:

Todd Dewett, Ph.D.

Robert J. Kegerreis Distinguished Professor of Teaching

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuAS44UGaek