LIFE@OSU

Shauna Tominey & Dean Tammy Bray at Celebration of Excellence

Every Mom’s Weekend at OSU in early May, donors, faculty, students, and their families gather to celebrate the achievements, hopes, and dreams of recipients of our fellowships and scholarships at our Celebration of Excellence. This year, I asked Shauna Tominey, a PhD student in human development and family sciences, to tell our more than 400 guests about the impact of the fellowships she has received at OSU. I want to share with you what she said, because it speaks to each of us who has ever received financial support for your education. Shauna said, “Your generosity not only relieves a student’s financial burdens, it more importantly says, ‘I believe in you. I believe that what you are doing is important, and I think you have the potential to change the world.’”

Wise words from this young woman who is changing the world for young children as she develops school readiness programs.

Here at OSU, we are surrounded by students and faculty who are changing our world every day because people believe in them, because others have gone before them, because they have the financial, moral, and academic support to realize their dreams. In this issue of Synergies, you’ll read about the impact of legacies of learning and generosity. You’ll learn about new programs that engage our students, about the 100-year history of our design and human environment department, about faculty research and teaching that reaches around the world and across the lifespan to help people live healthy, fulfilling lives. And you’ll read about proud alumni who are helping disaster victims around the world, giving babies a healthy start, and linking community services.

The College of Health and Human Sciences is a vibrant learning community that thrives because of your legacies. I thank you for believing in us. Please remember to thank those who believe in you.

Tammy Bray,
Dean