“All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.” (William Shakespeare)
Hello everyone,
This was a week that had many acts, and at least two stage appearances for me. The first time I took the stage was Wednesday evening as part of the reception thrown in my honor as the new Dean and Director of our great campus. For the full story please see:
Gee Welcomes New OSU-Mansfield Dean
And what an honor it was, kicked off by our own President Gordon Gee, who was his usual brilliant and entertaining self! And it didn’t hurt that Dr. Gee was fresh out of a morning meeting that included a $100 million philanthropic gift from the family of Les Wexner, founder of the Limited Brands and Chair of the OSU Board of Trustees. Imagine what our campus could do if we had one benefactor that gave just 1% of that amount! Hopefully, the sentiment that Abigail Wexner expressed about this historic gift – “Ohio State is our most important asset. It touches the entire community, not just students and alumni” – can become a rallying cry for our own benefactors in the area.
Introductory remarks also were made by Don Plotts, President of North Central State College, who discussed the growing and mutually beneficial partnership between our respective co-located institutions of higher learning. And then I took the stage, sharing a bit of my vision for where the campus was headed and how we were going to get there. I also spent some time in the telling of a few stories, including the recent walking tour of downtown Mansfield that I took with President Plotts. This included my discovery of the Buckeye Bakery, a place where I had assumed saying “O-H” would certainly render an “I-O.” In actuality, one customer did respond that way when I first walked into the bakery, but I believe I need to keep going back until I have the counter staff ready and willing to sing Carmen Ohio… after all, they are the Buckeye Bakery!
My second stage appearance happened on Thursday, when I participated in a post-production panel discussion of A Number, the Caryl Churchill play currently being put on by our Theater Department. The play itself follows a very intriguing storyline, with a central focus on the relationship between a father and his sons. That’s where my family research scientist expertise comes into the picture, and as such was the main reason why I was asked to participate in the panel discussion. Oh yes, and the sons are the products of cloning, which is where the intrigue comes into play. With solid performances by OSU Mansfield students Jeremy Barr and Rob McCready, direction by Professor Joseph Fahey, and set design by Richard Keith, this is not a show to miss! More information about these and other performances can be found at:
So catch a little bit more of the Ohio State spirit sometime soon. Visit the Buckeye Bakery and give an “O-H” shout out, think about a gift to our campus that would be an investment in our future, go see the new play in our theatre (performances run through this Sunday), and of course please take the time to enjoy the weekend with family and friends!
Steve Gavazzi
