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College of ��Vlog��ý announces new accelerated master’s degree through partnership with University of Rochester’s Simon Business School

cpaynich — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:34:30 +0000

��Vlog��ý has partnered with the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School to offer students a streamlined path to earning a master’s degree in business through Simon’s accelerated .

Through the program, ��Vlog��ý students earn a graduate business degree in just one year after completing their bachelor’s degree. Also available to prospective students considering enrollment, the program includes early admission to Simon, and students receive a guaranteed tuition scholarship, creating an efficient route to a highly prestigious graduate business degree.

“Offering this opportunity provides advantages to ��Vlog��ý students interested in master’s degrees through Simon Business School,” said Jen Bowen, Dean for Curriculum & Academic Engagement. “Academic advisors work closely with students to design their coursework and experiential learning to provide a path that will set them up for successful careers in national and international business. This relationship with Rochester allows our students to build on the foundation they receive at ��Vlog��ý in critical thinking, research skills, and global and intercultural perspectives, all important for working in business-related careers today.”

Program participants can pursue a master’s degree in areas such as accounting, artificial intelligence in business, business analytics, finance, and marketing analytics, and it’s available to ��Vlog��ý students with a pre-business mindset from any major who complete the required courses in business economics, computer science, mathematics, economics, ��statistical and data sciences, or other courses specific to the master’s program. Students in the entrepreneurship pathway will also find this a natural fit with their interests.

Simon Business School is consistently ranked among the top business schools in the United States and recognized for delivering a strong return on investment for its graduates. The 4+1 Business Master’s Pathway program offers several benefits designed to simplify and accelerate the graduate admissions process, including:

Guaranteed scholarship covering at least 30% of tuition
Waived application fee
No GRE or GMAT requirement
Early access to graduate-level career workshops and one-on-one coaching sessions

“This partnership with ��Vlog��ý reflects our shared commitment to expanding access to high-quality graduate education,” said University of Rochester Provost Nicole Sampson. “By working with ��Vlog��ý and other outstanding partner institutions, we are enabling talented students to transition more easily from undergraduate to graduate study and prepare for successful careers with a Simon degree. Together, we are building a powerful bridge that expands opportunity and delivers lasting value for students and their families.”

Learn more about pre-professional advising in business at wooster.edu/area/pre-business/ and for more information about the 4+1 Business Master’s Pathway program, visit: .

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Distinguished biologist to deliver Commencement address for College of ��Vlog��ý Class of 2026

cpaynich — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:54:20 +0000

��Vlog��ý will welcome Jodi Nunnari ’84, a chemistry graduate of ��Vlog��ý and a leader in the field of mitochondrial biology, to deliver the commencement address at the Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2026 on Saturday, May 16, 2026. The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. in the Gault Recreation Center inside the Scot Center (1267 Beall Avenue).

As senior vice president, head of discovery science and founding principal investigator at Altos Labs, Nunnari’s work focuses on cellular rejuvenation programming with the goal of reversing disease. As a mitochondrial biologist, she studies the cellular structures that provide energy and metabolic building blocks to living cells, which affect a wide range of diseases and aging. Nunnari was the first to describe mitochondria as a dynamic network in a homeostatic balance, and her lab described the mitochondrial division and fusion machines. Her lab also elucidated additional mechanisms underlying mitochondrial behavior within cells, including how mitochondrial membranes are organized, how mitochondria communicate with the endoplasmic reticulum, and how the mitochondrial genome is transmitted.

Nunnari’s academic body of work includes more than 100 publications spanning more than two decades, published in scientific journals around the world. Her papers have been cited by other research publications more than nine thousand times. Prior to joining Altos, Nunnari served as distinguished professor of molecular and cellular biology at the University of California-Davis from 1998 to 2022. Additionally, Nunnari is a fellow and past president of the American Society for Cell Biology and an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the European Molecular Biology Organization and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Nunnari earned her B.A. in chemistry at ��Vlog��ý and her doctorate in pharmacology from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1989.

Josephine Fleischel ’26

In addition to Nunnari, the ceremony will feature speakers from the graduating class, Josephine Fleischel ’26, a global media and digital studies major, and Elliot Miller ’26, an environmental geoscience major, who were selected based on academic performance and peer nominations.

Fleischel, a global media and digital studies major, serves as co-president of the ��Vlog��ý Dance Company and is an active choreographer and dancer. She is also a DJ for the campus radio station, Woo-91, and volunteers weekly with the nonprofit OHuddle. As a recipient of the Theatre and Dance Scholarship, she studied abroad in London, where she pursued media studies coursework and trained at the London Contemporary Dance School. Her Independent Study, “If Man is Five, Then the Devil is Six,” examines the influence of new media technologies on the evolution of Satanic Panic narratives, analyzing rhetorical shifts across the 1980s and 2010s.

Elliot Miller ’26

Miller, an environmental geoscience major with a minor in physics, chose ��Vlog��ý for the liberal arts education, competitive athletics, and strong sense of community. His I.S., conducted with Meagen Pollock, Marian Senter Nixon Professor of Natural Sciences, analyzes samples from Iceland’s Western Volcanic Zone with implications for identifying volcanic activity on Mars. He studied abroad in Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands and interned with ��Vlog��ý’s earth sciences department. In addition to serving as a three-year student assistant athletic trainer, Elliot participates in Geology Club and Bluegrass Jam and competes on the men’s soccer team. His achievements include recognition as an Academic and Athletic All-American and receipt of an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. After graduation, he plans to pursue graduate studies in geophysics.

President McCall will preside over the ceremony, which will also include an invocation led by Stuart Franklin ’26, education and religious studies majors, and benediction provided by Rev. Jon Fancher ’78, interim chaplain at the College. The ceremony also will feature a vocal performance by Lilly Ashe ’26, a communication sciences and disorders major and music minor.

Tickets are required to enter the event and may be requested through a on the commencement webpage. Families who cannot attend the event in person will be able to access a livestream of the ceremony. For more information on commencement and related events visit wooster.edu/commencement.

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Cleveland Film Festival features flamenco documentary co-directed by ��Vlog��ý faculty and students

cpaynich — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:04:41 +0000

on April 16, 2026, at the Playhouse Square Ohio Theatre, shown as part of the Local Heroes Shorts (Program 3), featuring films made by student filmmakers from Ohio, with .

The short documentary film, mostly in Spanish with English subtitles, captures the rigor and passion that drive flamenco artists toward virtuosity and transcendence. It is the product of the 2025 ��Vlog��ý-Madrid TREK, which combined a study of the history of Madrid with a filmmaking workshop.

“For me, documentary is an act of empathy. It’s an act of listening,” said Greg Shaya, Henry J. and Laura H. Copeland professor of European history, and global media & digital studies, who led the TREK and co-directed the film with Aída Díaz de León, visiting assistant professor of Spanish. Seven ��Vlog��ý students with a variety of majors took part in the program: Tobi Aina ’28, Nurain Amier ’26, Shannon Dunning ’27, TyLynn Gault ’27, Emma McKone ’26, Henry Walter-Wilde ’27, and Eva Wojciechowski ’26.

While in Madrid, the student film crew closely followed four dancers—Mía, Sara, Gabriel and Rafael—as they told the stories of their journeys to flamenco and the spirit, or fire within, that animates their art. Consequently, the crew learned a lot about flamenco in addition to learning how to make films.

“It was technically impressive, but it was also emotionally beautiful. I thought that they summed up every human emotion in the show,” said Dunning, a music major.

The experience was completely hands-on with students learning all aspects of filmmaking. “I got to do a lot of media wrangling and learned how to manage all the footage, which made me understand a lot more about the equipment that goes into actually capturing a shot,” said Amier, who is majoring in biology and Chinese studies.

Shaya added, “I love when the students’ eyes open wide, and you can see they’re thinking. There’s something cool going on here, and I’m a part of it.”

One of the biggest takeaways for the students was how much work goes into making a film, even a short one. “There’s an understanding that you’re going to pour a lot of work into it, even if the project you actually end up making isn’t huge,” said Walter-Wilde, a biochemistry & molecular biology major completing a pathway in digital & visual storytelling.

Shaya and Díaz de León, along with collaborators in Madrid, helped the students put the pieces together. “There are so many challenges to making a movie,” Shaya said. “Who are your characters? Where’s the story? I feel like we’re running to make this thing happen, but it’s magic when things come together.”

Faculty praised the students for their dedication to the project. “At ��Vlog��ý, we have such amazing students who are smart, hard-working, curious, and engaged,” said Shaya. “What I appreciate about youth,” added Díaz de León, “is that they don’t have limits.”

In addition to making “Flamenco, The Fire Within,” which is only available through public screenings, the students created a short YouTube video about their experience, titled

The 2025 ��Vlog��ý-Madrid TREK was made possible with support from the Discovery Learning Endowment and the Yamazaki Experiential Travel Fund. Six ��Vlog��ý students will attend a 2026 ��Vlog��ý-Madrid TREK and plan to make a film about the neighborhood of Malasaña. More information about supporting these funds is available by contacting advancement@wooster.edu.

Featured Image: Students Henry Walter-Wilde ’27, Tobi Aina ’28, Emma McKone ’26, TyLynn Gault ’27, Nurain Amier ’26, Shannon Dunning ’27, Eva Wojciechowski ’26 participated in a TREK, off-campus filming workshop in Madrid, led by Professor Greg Shaya, and ��Vlog��ýing Assistant Professor Aída Díaz de León.

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Seven-figure gift establishes Abbey Arboretum at ��Vlog��ý

cpaynich — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:54:31 +0000

A seven-figure gift from ��Vlog��ý alumnus Paul Abbey ’73 and his wife, Constance Norweb Abbey, has established the campus-wide Abbey Arboretum at ��Vlog��ý. The College was awarded , a . The recognition of ��Vlog��ý’s campus as an arboretum accentuates ��Vlog��ý’s long commitment to trees — an — and the research, educational programming, and conservation efforts happening on ��Vlog��ý’s 240-acre campus and golf course.

“What an honor it is for our community to learn, work, and play in the middle of an arboretum. Paul’s inspiring support and enthusiasm for this project show his devotion to ��Vlog��ý,” President Anne McCall said. “Beautifully maintained by our campus grounds department, the Abbey Arboretum at ��Vlog��ý provides a nourishing learning environment that fosters community, scholarship, research, and innovation. Paul’s gift honors that stewardship and adds to our ability to preserve that enriching environment for ��Vlog��ý’s future.”

Paul Abbey ’73

For the Abbeys, committing their support to the Abbey Arboretum at ��Vlog��ý is part of an ongoing tradition. Paul Abbey founded��, a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring the Northeast Ohio tree canopy and environmental preservation, and the value arboreta bring to the community in perpetuity is also meaningful to his wife, Constance Norweb Abbey whose great grandfather, Albert F. Holden, founded .

“We’re building on a historic tree community already in place at ��Vlog��ý,” said Abbey, an emeritus trustee of the College and past president of the Alumni Association. “It’s a living laboratory, and our support adds to the research, learning environment, and educational opportunities for our community about how trees benefit us all. Through partnerships with local arboretums, strong governance, and local volunteers, the Abbey Arboretum at ��Vlog��ý will support our beautiful campus in more intentional and new ways.”

Arboretums specialize in trees and woody plants, and as a member of for more than 16 years, the College already meets many of the criteria of a including a labeled and cataloged collection of at least 25 different tree species. , developed 25 years ago in collaboration with , tracks not only the number of trees on campus but also their ecological and economic benefits. In just the past five years, calculations estimated the value of trees on campus at more than $63,000; benefits include carbon dioxide removed from the air (more than 820K pounds), storm water mitigation avoiding runoff and collecting rainfall (more than 12M gallons), and air pollution removal including carbon monoxide, and other gases (more than 100K ounces). Over a span of 20 years, the value rises to $260,000 for the nearly 180 different species of trees on campus.

“The strength and support added through the Abbey Arboretum honors the hard work of our grounds department to maintain the urban forest on campus,” said Phil Olsen, manager of campus grounds and a certified arborist. “Sustainability and preserving and protecting our environment mean so much to our students and community. The partnerships through accreditation reaffirm our commitment to providing students a beautiful campus underneath our tree canopy.”

Abbey will serve as founding director and chair of an advisory committee that will include faculty, staff, students, and members of the local community. The committee will offer perspective on how the Abbey Arboretum at ��Vlog��ý will expand student and community engagement, strengthen and grow the tree collection, and broaden academic research and educational development opportunities, over the next three to five years. Already, in addition to environmental research on campus, students and faculty often collaborate with the in ��Vlog��ý and , just east of Cleveland. “These partnerships strengthen ��Vlog��ý’s value as a member of ArbNet’s network,” said Abbey, noting that as a student, he was involved with a project at Secrest.

Coming to ��Vlog��ý from Pennsylvania, Abbey said going to school in what felt like a woodland helped him “feel at home” on a campus, and it was a meaningful place for his family. His great-grandfather, Dwight C. Hanna, who graduated from ��Vlog��ý in 1883, was the first of five generations in Abbey’s family to “walk under the same oak trees,” also including his daughter, Kendall Abbey ’09, who earned her degree in anthropology. Abbey, a political science alumnus, sees the education he received at ��Vlog��ý as a “jumping off point” regardless of vocation.

“��Vlog��ý gave me the confidence to face the future as a strong thinker and problem solver,” said Abbey, who later founded Fairport Asset Management LLC, a wealth management company in 1988 (now Hightower Signature Wealth). “Insights into the macro-economic environment, global politics, and the inner workings of government, strengthened our investment strategy for our clients.”

Investing in trees reflects Abbey’s enduring connection to the College, one that still draws him to the woods alongside the campus golf course, where he once roamed as a four-year member of the Fighting Scots men’s golf team. Working closely with Olsen and being involved in nurturing ��Vlog��ý’s tree canopy is nothing new for Abbey. His support extended to the planting of 21 black gum trees, celebrated in the fall, involving many volunteers from the community. To him, the event signified an example of the educational value promoting the long-term health of the campus landscape can bring to the community, and the Abbey Arboretum at ��Vlog��ý underscores that impact into the future. “What we’re doing today will benefit students for generations,” he said.

The College’s commitment to its urban forest is also supported by the Tree Conservation Endowment and the Grace Tompos Endowed Tree Fund, and the Abbeys’ gift of the Abbey Arboretum at ��Vlog��ý helps position the College for its upcoming comprehensive campaign.

The Abbey Arboretum at ��Vlog��ý encompasses the College’s 240-acre campus and golf course including about 2,800 trees in an urban forest where the College community lives and learns.

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��Vlog��ý Wildcards take first in regional programming contest

cpaynich — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 14:52:08 +0000

Students from ��Vlog��ý earned first place at the most recent Denison Spring Programming Contest on Feb. 28, 2026, competing against more than a dozen teams from colleges and high schools across Ohio.

��Vlog��ý sent two teams to the all-day event: the Scot Bots, including Miles Fike ’27, Osen Mac-Iriase ’26, Hannah Venzon ’28, and Anany Sachan ’27, and the ��Vlog��ý Wildcards, which included Suraj Acharya ’26, Mehdia Sadat ’27, Saidamir Osimov ’27, and Elizabeth Haar ’26. The Wildcards secured first place after solving five of the contest’s six problems. “They were the only team to solve that many problems, and they did it in less total time than any other team,” said Heather Guarnera, assistant professor of computer science, who coached both groups.

The contest, now in its 36th year, challenges teams to solve a set of six complex programming problems during a four-hour window without the use of the internet or electronic devices other than the computers they use to code. Students can track other teams’ progress for the first three hours, but the final hour is a blackout period, heightening the suspense and strategy as teams race to complete solutions. In the event of a tie, the winner is determined by speed and by penalties for multiple incorrect submissions.

This year’s competition included teams from Denison University, Ohio Wesleyan University, Granville High School, and ��Vlog��ý. Guarnera noted that solving all six problems is rare, making the Wildcards’ performance especially impressive.

Acharya, a mathematics and computer science major who had participated in the competition twice before, said the contest offered a valuable opportunity to apply complex concepts like dynamic programming from his coursework in a high-stakes, fast-paced environment. “Taking Algorithm Analysis with Dr. Guarnera not only prepared me for recognizing problems in dynamic programming but also solving them,” he said, adding that the team’s greatest advantage was familiarity with the tools the competition requires.

The Scot Bots and ��Vlog��ý Wildcards included (from left to right, back) Sachan, Osimov, Mac-Iriase, Fike, and Venzon and (from left to right, front), Haar, Sadat, and Acharya with Professor Guarnera (front, far left).

Still, the team’s camaraderie was ultimately the most memorable aspect of the event for Acharya. “I believe that enjoying the competition is the best outcome you can get,” he reflected, “and I definitely enjoyed it.”

Beyond the technical challenge, Guarnera emphasized that the event showcases the competencies ��Vlog��ý cultivates in its graduates: problem-solving, critical and creative thinking, effective collaboration, deep disciplinary knowledge, and the ability to engage in both active listening and reasoning under pressure.

“It’s also a competitive evaluation of our students alongside peer institutions,” Guarnera noted. “And this year, they represented us well. Our students knocked it out of the park!”

Featured image: ��Vlog��ý students, Acharya (left) and Haar (right) take their turn in the computer lab; only two teammates are allowed at a time in the lab, which increases the challenge and requires concentrated collaboration.

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Liberal arts strength in navigating change shines in spring 2026 ��Vlog��ý magazine

cpaynich — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 11:34:37 +0000

The spring 2026 issue of����Vlog��ý��magazine showcases how a liberal arts education, like the one graduates receive at ��Vlog��ý, prepares them to navigate change, ask questions, and engage the world with intellectual rigor.

From eye-opening journeys that reveal strengths, to finding a calling through teaching, or discovering a path to the big top, alumni Bill Colvin ’79, Scott Bloom ’94, and Hannah Samuell ’09 reflect on the unexpected turns in their careers and the habits of inquiry that began at ��Vlog��ý. Also, learn more about the College’s approach to artificial intelligence in a liberal arts environment built on critical thinking and human connection. The campus community is considering how AI influences classroom learning and raises ethical questions, as ��Vlog��ý prepares graduates for an evolving world.

A historical feature revisits a defining moment in ��Vlog��ý’s history when teaching evolutionary theory required courage, evidence-based debate, and a commitment to scholarly inquiry. Echoing that commitment in fall 2025, the College hosted a series of community discussions with expert speakers to inspire discussion reflecting on academic freedom in global, institutional, and educational contexts. Alongside coverage of the series, a Q&A with President Anne McCall discusses the role of academic freedom and dialogue in advancing knowledge not only in higher education but in society and communities.

Oak Grove includes “Why I Play” with baseball infielder and business economics major Ryan Kramer ’26, highlighting what motivates him on and off the field. In “Why ��Vlog��ý,” assistant director of residence life Maddie Cuckow reflects on what drew her to the College and her work supporting students. “Mentoring Matchup” juxtaposes mentee Fridosse Adam Idrissou ’26, a French and Francophone studies and history major, with Ibra Sene, associate professor of history and global and international studies, who has supported her journey throughout her time at ��Vlog��ý. Tartan Ties includes class notes from the classes of 1956 through 2022, coverage of the new Scots Under 10 Program celebration during Homecoming Weekend, and “Why I Give” with Zoe Dudack ’22.

The and past issues of the magazine are available in the��.

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Studio art and philosophy alumna explores loss and memory through painting

Madeline Geiser-Getz — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 22:02:36 +0000

Growing up in a small town in China, ��had always hoped to attend college in the United States. As an international student��at ��Vlog��ý, she��wasn’t��sure what to expect. “But when I came here, I felt like I really belonged��at��Vlog��ý,” she said.��“It��was the perfect place for me to study.”��

Even before setting foot on campus, Wu knew she wanted to study studio art. As an avid painter, it seemed natural to continue that passion in college. Working with Marina Mangubi, Eugene and Charlene Derge Sussel Professor of Studio Art, she developed foundational art and research skills. Outside of the studio, Wu found an unexpected interest in philosophy. “I enjoyed reading philosophy books, enjoyed the class, and enjoyed arguing,” Wu said, attributing her newfound passion to her advisor Evan Riley, associate professor of philosophy.��

In both academic disciplines, she emphasized how her professors pushed her to keep asking questions, expanding ideas, and challenging her��imagination.��“There is something so important about teaching, about education happening in a small group of people,” Wu said. “There is something intimate about the transmission of knowledge that happens between your professors, your colleagues, and yourself.”��

Blending her work in��studio art��and��philosophy,��³�’s Independent Study��was inspired by the women��in her upbringing, whose dedication to their children and families became a central focus in her��reflection��on feminism, independence, and��motherhood.��“The tension between autonomy and the traditional demands and sacrifices of motherhood troubled me — as a��philosophical question and a real-life dilemma,” she said.��Drawing on feminist philosophies, Wu explored this tension through both a solo exhibition and a thesis paper titled “Women, Autonomy, Authenticity, and �Ѵǳٳ��Ǵǻ�.”��

In addition to��her thesis, she��created��a series of oil paintings, each depicting a woman in her life. Her work was displayed in a solo exhibition at Ebert Art Center. Wu saw her I.S. not as a graduation requirement or formal academic paper, but as a personal experience and deeper exploration of her friends and family.��“I think people should��try to��enjoy the process of I.S., rather than��just��the end, because the process��was��actually the most important thing that helped me��grow,” she said.��

After graduating from ��Vlog��ý in 2022, Wu left the Midwest and headed to Brooklyn, New York, to complete an Master of Fine Arts in painting and drawing at Pratt Institute. “��Vlog��ý definitely prepared me with a good academic background for attending a very competitive, self-driven Master of Fine Arts program in New York,” Wu said.��

Drawing on memories of her upbringing along the��Yangtze River��in��Jiangyin, China, �³�’s work explores the relationship between past and present, and how that complex dynamic��shapes��identity and space. Her oil paintings depict peaceful, yet melancholy scenes centered on themes of loss, memory, and time.��

Wu��decided to stay��in New York, where she��works��as a freelance artist.��After��being��featured��in publications��including��New York��Weekly,��Create! Magazine, and��Artsy, in May 2025,��the global art market platform��identified��Wu as one of five��noteworthy��emerging��artists to watch.��

In addition to being featured in��numerous��articles, her��paintings have��been shown in galleries across the United States and China.��Each gallery space offers a unique experience for communication and collaboration. “The way you place your work and the way you try to talk about your work, is going to shape people’s experience with your work,”��Wu��said.��

Wu’s��most recent��solo��exhibition,��,��opened in��May��2025��at Make Room Los Angeles, a contemporary art gallery in the center of LA.��“It’s a series of works reflecting on my childhood and my life, and the sense of loss in little moments we all experience,” she said.��

As Wu continues to make a name for herself in the global art scene,��she��reflected on turning��her��passion��for creating art��into a��fulfilling��career:��“I just really love art.��I’m��so lucky that I can make money from it as well.��It’s��become the main part of my life to make the work I want to make, have the shows and an audience,��and also��have the community in New York.”��

Featured image: Xiangjie Rebecca Wu ’22, photo provided by subject.

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Spring arts events showcase talented ��Vlog��ý students

Mukta Pillai — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:03:06 +0000

��Vlog��ý will present a variety of arts events throughout��its��spring��2026��semester, beginning at the end of January.��Open to the��greater ��Vlog��ý��community, events from the departments of Music, Theatre and Dance,��and the  College of ��Vlog��ý Art��Museum (CWAM) include��performances from music ensembles, theatre and dance productions, and the spring art exhibit. The��wide variety of events��highlight��the diverse talents of students��studying professionally in the arts and from other majors.

College of ��Vlog��ý Art Museum exhibitions 1970: Mirrored Pasts, Predictable Futures, Ebert Art Center (1220 Beall Avenue). Opening to the public on Jan. 20, this exhibition invites viewers to reflect on the year 1970, a pivotal moment in art history as artists responded to the progress and heightened anxieties that grew following the post-war era. Curated by students, works in the exhibition prompt viewers to consider how those tensions continue to echo today. The exhibit will be on display until April. The CWAM is open Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 6: Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo Concert featuring Saxophonist Pete Mills, 7:30 p.m., Gault Recital Hall of Scheide Music Center (525 E. University Street). Pete Mills, Columbus-area saxophonist and member of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, joins ��Vlog��ý Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo in a fun-filled evening of great, swinging jazz standards and new compositions; with free admission and the event is open to the public. Conducted by Jeffrey Lindberg, the ensemble specializes in playing large-ensemble jazz and gives opportunities for participants to compose, arrange, and improvise music.
Friday, Feb. 13: I HEART ART, 4 p.m., Ebert Art Center (1220 Beall Avenue). In collaboration with the Wellness Center and Peer Health Educators, ��Vlog��ý Art Museum invites all to celebrate love in all its forms with art, craft activities, and treats.
��Vlog��ý Symphony Orchestra performs in fall 2025.
Friday, Feb. 20 and Sunday, Feb. 22: ��Vlog��ý Symphony Orchestra Concert featuring the Escher String Quartet, Gault Recital Hall of Scheide Music Center (525 E. University Street). Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 20 and 3 p.m. on Feb. 22. The world-famous Escher String Quartet joins the ��Vlog��ý Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jeffrey Lindberg, in a performance of Edward Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro for Strings, Op. 47. The program also includes Dvorák’s Serenade for Strings and Mendelssohn’s “Italian” Symphony, in honor of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Tickets are required and available at Buehler’s (Milltown and Towne Market) and Scheide Music Center.
Thursday through Sunday, Feb. 26 – March1: The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde 7:30 p.m., Freedlander Theatre (329 E. University Street). Directed by Shirley Huston-Findley, professor and department chair of theatre and dance, The Importance of Being Earnest, a satirical comedy set in Victorian London, demonstrates Wilde’s ability to critique the performance of the wealthy and powerful through witty repartee and farcical situations, allowing audiences to recognize the absurdity and transparency of social conventions. Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee only on Sunday, March 1, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are required and available at the box office in Freedlander Theatre or at wooster.edu/snippet/tickets.
Friday, March 6: ��Vlog��ý Contemporary Chamber Ensemble Concert, 7:30 p.m., Gault Recital Hall of Scheide Music Center (525 E. University Street). Directed by Dylan Findley, visiting assistant professor of music, music theory, and composition, the Contemporary Chamber Ensemble focuses on music by living composers.
Sunday, March 8: Scot Symphonic Band & ��Vlog��ý Pipe Band Concert, 3 p.m., McGaw Chapel (340 E. University Street). Directed by Jeffrey Gershman, professor of music and director of bands, the band is the premier wind ensemble at the College. Scot Symphonic Band performances draw both from the cornerstones of the wind literature and the finest contemporary works. ��Vlog��ý Pipe Band is directed by Palmer Shonk ’10 and Sean Lawry and continues to foster Scottish arts and culture at the College.
Founded in 1964, the ��Vlog��ý Chorus is comprised of students representing all academic areas.
Sunday, March 8: ��Vlog��ý Chorus Pre-Tour Concert, 7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church (621 College Ave). Founded in 1964, the ��Vlog��ý Chorus is comprised of students representing all academic areas and directed by Christin Sears, visiting assistant professor of choral music and director of choral activities. The award-winning ensemble has been praised for its beautiful sound, high level of artistry, creative programming, and engaging performances.
Thursday through Sunday, April 16-19: Spring Dance Concert, 7:30 p.m., Freedlander Theatre. Directed by Emily Baird, assistant professor of Theatre & Dance, the concert features original and diverse choreography from members of ��Vlog��ý Dance Company and Baird. This spring’s concert also features the work of guest artist Francesca Baron and an I.S. piece by Larissa Cardine ’26. Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee only showing on Sunday, April 19, at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at the box office in Freedlander Theatre or at wooster.edu/snippet/tickets.
��Vlog��ý Dance Company performs in the 2025 Spring Dance Concert.
Saturday, April 18: ��Vlog��ý Concert Band & ��Vlog��ý Singers Concert, 3 p.m., Gault Recital Hall of Scheide Music Center (525 E. University Street). The ��Vlog��ý Singers is the College’s non-auditioned mixed voice ensemble music course, open to music majors and non-majors alike and conducted by Christin Sears, visiting assistant professor and director of choral activities. The ��Vlog��ý Concert Band includes students, staff, and faculty of the College, along with community members from Wayne County, ranging in age from 16 to 80 and is conducted by Jeffrey Gershman, professor of music and director of bands at ��Vlog��ý.
Friday, May 1: Senior Studio Art Group Show Celebration, 4 p.m., Ebert Art Center (1220 Beall Avenue). Each studio major exhibits their Independent Study work in the MacKenzie Gallery at the heart of Ebert Art Center and submits one work to the group exhibition in the College of ��Vlog��ý Art Museum. Students will offer gallery talks about their work as part of the College’s annual Senior Research Symposium, showcasing the scholarship of students across campus for Independent Study.
Friday, May 1: ��Vlog��ý Symphony Orchestra Concert, 7:30 p.m., McGaw Chapel (340 E. University Street). Conducted by Jeffrey Lindberg, professor of music at the College, the ��Vlog��ý Symphony Orchestra presents a performance of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47. Senior violinists Noah Hankin ’26 and Jane Nolte ’26 will be featured in a performance of Amitié for Two Violins and Orchestra by Eugene Ysaye. The ensemble will also premiere Pursuit for Symphony Orchestra, a new work by composer Dylan Findley, assistant professor of music at ��Vlog��ý. Tickets are required and available at Buehler’s (Milltown and Towne Market) and the Scheide Music Center.
Saturday, May 2: ��Vlog��ý Contemporary Chamber Ensemble Concert, 7:30 p.m., Gault Recital Hall of Scheide Music Center (525 E. University Street). The Contemporary Chamber Ensemble focuses on music by living composers and is directed by Dylan Findley, assistant professor of music, music theory, and composition.
Sunday, May 3: Scot Symphonic Band & ��Vlog��ý Pipe Band Concert, 3 p.m., McGaw Chapel (340 E. University Street). Directed by Jeffrey Gershman, professor of music and director of bands, the band is the premier wind ensemble at the College. Scot Symphonic Band performances draw both from the cornerstones of the wind literature and the finest contemporary works. ��Vlog��ý Pipe Band is directed by Palmer Shonk ’10 and Sean Lawry and continues to foster Scottish arts and culture at the College.
Scot Symphonic Band performs at Homecoming Celebration of the Arts in fall 2024.
Tuesday, May 5: Jazz Ensemble Concert, 7 p.m., Scot Amphitheater. Chicago vocalist Abigail Riccards joins ��Vlog��ý Jazz Ensemble to celebrate the end of spring classes. The performance will highlight the contributions of the ensemble’s graduating seniors. In the event of rain, the concert will be moved to Gault Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m. to ensure the performance continues as planned.
Friday, May 15: Commencement Concert, 3 p.m., McGaw Chapel (340 E. University Street). ��Vlog��ý will celebrate commencement weekend with a concert featuring the ��Vlog��ý Chorus, directed by Christin Sears, visiting assistant professor of choral music and director of choral activities. The performance will honor the achievements of graduating students.

All events are open to the public. For more information on events in the Department of Music, contact administrative coordinator Melissa Puster at mpuster@wooster.edu or 330-263-2419. For information on Theatre and Dance events, contact Scott Schwarzwalder at sschwarzwldr@wooster.edu or 330-263-2541. For additional��information on the CWAM exhibitions, visit the��CWAM website��or call 330-263-2495.

Featured image: Students perform in the Theatre and Dance departments spring 2025 production of Legacy of Light.

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��Vlog��ý’s annual MLK celebration to center Love in Action

cpaynich — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:27:07 +0000

��Vlog��ý will host its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, centered on the theme “Love in Action: Honoring Dr. King,” with keynote speaker Dr. Afiya M. Mbilishaka, a mental health expert whose work centers on healing justice and community wellbeing. The College invites students, faculty, staff, as well as the community to engage in meaningful exploration and dialogue about issues that connect with King’s work and vision on matters relating to civil rights and social justice, activism, responsibility, and engagement.

On Monday, Jan. 19, a Prayer Breakfast and Opening Ceremony will take place in Kittredge Dining Hall (535 E. Wayne Ave.) at 9 a.m. The gathering will offer space for reflection and community as the campus comes together to mark the day. The College will also host a series of Justice Dialogues with morning sessions from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and afternoon sessions from 1:30 to 3 p.m., in Ruth Williams Hall (435 E. Pine St.). The dialogues are designed to foster thoughtful conversation and invite participants to engage with King’s legacy in relation to contemporary social issues, including cultivating community and belonging in different contexts, recognizing discrimination, and understanding the immigration crisis. Learn more about the Justice Dialogues at wooster.edu/mlk.

The day will conclude with the keynote address from Mbilishaka at 3:30 p.m. in Gault Recital Hall inside Scheide Music Center (525 E. University St.). Mbilishaka, a licensed clinical psychologist, therapist, consultant, professor, research scientist, speaker, hair historian, and natural hairstylist, is the founder of PsychoHairapy, an innovative and nationally recognized approach that uses hair care as an entry point into mental health and healing within Black communities. Her work bridges beauty, science, and soul. She is also the owner of Ma’at Psychological Services, a private practice focused on promoting balance and restoring order in the lives of her clients. Her clinical and scholarly work centers traditional African cultural rituals and holistic mental health practices for contemporary contexts.

Mbilishaka earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Howard University after completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently an assistant professor of Africana studies and psychology at Wellesley College and serves as the principal investigator of the HAIR Lab with her student researchers. Mbilishaka has published over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles, seven book chapters, and three books, and she has presented her work at more than 50 universities and conferences nationally and internationally. She is a former president of the Association of Black Psychologists, Washington, D.C. Chapter, and has been recognized as a subject matter expert by both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, where she has testified in support of the CROWN Act, landmark legislation protecting against hair-based discrimination. She has trained hairstylists around the world to serve as mental health advocates and now leads international cultural and mental-health-focused learning experiences.

As part of the MLK celebration, the College will host a Soup and Bread lunch on Wednesday, Jan. 21, in Kittredge Dining Hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with proceeds going toward lowering student lunch debt at ��Vlog��ý City Schools. An art project completed in continued engagement with ��Vlog��ý City Schools and local nonprofit organizations will also be displayed on campus. The College encourages participation from all members of the campus community including students, faculty, staff as well as members of the greater ��Vlog��ý community. Together these events reflect the College’s ongoing commitment to honoring King’s legacy through reflection, dialogue, and action. More information about the MLK Day celebration including updates to the schedule and event locations will be found at wooster.edu/mlk.

Featured image: Dr. Afiya M. Mbilishaka, Photo by Kelvin Bulluck provided by the subject.

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Software engineer turned Tony-nominated Broadway producer finds community behind the curtain

cpaynich — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 15:00:03 +0000

While growing up in China, Harry Cheng ’15 never expected to end up at an American liberal arts college. Nor did he expect to excel at computer science instead of pursuing a chemistry major. Even more unexpected was his path to Broadway. Just eight years after seeing his first live musical, Cheng is a Tony-nominated producer with a love for the theatre and the community that comes with it. Here’s how he turned problem solving and people skills gained at ��Vlog��ý into both a software engineering career and a “side gig” producing Broadway shows.

Cheng planned to stay in China after high school, but with his family’s encouragement, he ventured to the U.S. for a completely different educational environment. “We thought a liberal arts college could be a good fit with more of a community experience that focuses on building a person instead of just technical training,” said Cheng.

At ��Vlog��ý, Cheng enjoyed exploring different disciplines and ultimately declared a major in computer science. He put practical skills to work as an Applied Methods and Research Experience (AMRE) consultant for the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC). As part of a three-student team, Cheng helped build a graphical user interface to connect R programming language with the center’s Galaxy application to simplify data analysis and expand accessibility.

Cheng also completed an internship with local software start up, Cureo, and demonstrated his programming skills with an Independent Study where he built a software prototype for ��Vlog��ý High School to manage student academic and behavioral data. The project gave the school a proof of concept to seek additional funding, and it gave Cheng confirmation that he wanted to pursue similar career work.

“Many classmates wanted to go and get a Ph.D. and do academic research, but I wanted to build software and solve problems,” said Cheng. “My I.S. mentor, Dr. Simon Gray helped me along that route. AMRE and the internship also helped me build professional skills in the industry.”

A few years later, during a stressful season in graduate school, Cheng needed a distraction. As an avid South Park fan, he bought a ticket to a touring production of The Book of Mormon, without expecting to enjoy it. Though he earned a minor in music at ��Vlog��ý, he said he hated movie-musicals for bursting into song. He saw them as overly dramatic and artificial in nature. “The show ended up changing my life,” said Cheng. “I didn’t know how visceral the live musical experience could be.” The abstract stage design and storytelling made sense in this format. “It’s like something tribal or primal where people gather around to listen to a story and be entertained.”

After moving to California for a position at Amazon, Cheng saw every theatre production he could in San Jose and San Francisco. Still, a tech-focused Bay Area felt barren for culture. He transferred his role to NYC in 2021 to be as close as possible to America’s theatre hub, where he spammed the ticket lotteries to see shows on the regular. Cheng connected with Chinese peers and like-minded groups of theatre friends like his producing partner, Jiani Bai. They shared an interest in getting into the industry. His problem-solving skills and her finance background made them both a great fit for the business side of theatre. Strategic networking led the pair to a conversation with two-time Tony Award-winning producer, Brian Spector. He was a co-producer on Suffs, which was working to transfer from an off-Broadway run.

Harry Cheng ’15 (right) poses with his mentor, Brian Spector (left) and producing partner, Jiani Bai in front of the marquee of their Tony-nominated production, The Hills of California.

They eagerly invested in the show and learned the business of Broadway through Spector’s mentorship. “You can go to school for stage management, acting, or writing, but that’s not the case for producing or fundraising for shows,” explained Cheng. When Spector became the lead producer of the 2024 Broadway transfer of The Hills of California (a play from London’s West End), he invited Cheng and Bai to co-produce. The show ran on Broadway from September to December that year, and earned seven Tony Award nominations, including Best Play, in 2025.

“I never imagined I would be at the Tony Awards with a credit or have a reason to go at all,” said Cheng. “It was kind of like a commencement because I got to see my colleagues and theatre friends and celebrate our hard work of the past year.” Though they didn’t win Best Play, Cheng was thrilled to be in the wings to witness an actor he looks up to, Francis Jue, win Best Featured Actor in a Play for Yellow Face.

Today Cheng works as a software engineer for Bloomberg and enjoys producing as his side career. He and Bai co-produced Redwood starring Idina Menzel in spring 2025 and continue to collaborate with Spector on Wild About You (still in development). They’re also co-producers for the Suffs North American tour, which marches into Cleveland’s Playhouse Square in February 2026.

Cheng says many other producers have other full-time jobs like he does. “It’s a surprisingly small community. The business model isn’t hard, but it requires a lot of people skills and networking,” he said. He’s grateful to have initially built these skills at ��Vlog��ý and for an “eye-opening” liberal arts curriculum that let him explore outside his major. “It prevents tunnel vision in one direction, so you won’t lose sight of what the whole world has to offer.”

Featured image: Harry Cheng ’15 attended the 78th annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on June 8, 2025.

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