What do Shakespeare and Cole Porter have in common? How about a stormy wench named Kate in the classic Broadway musical, “Kiss Me Kate”? This dynamic musical comedy is on the Southern Ohio Performing Arts Association (SOPAA)/Shawnee State University schedule for Tues., April 20 and Wed., April 21, with the curtain rising at 7:30 p.m. both nights in the Main Theater of the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts (VRCFA) on the SSU campus.

            Taking its inspiration from Shakespeare, "Kiss Me Kate" recounts the backstage and onstage antics of two feuding romantic couples during a touring production of "The Taming of the Shrew."

            Sparkling with 18 classic Cole Porter songs--including "Another Op'nin', Another Show," "Wunderbar," "So in Love," "Always True to You in My Fashion," "Too Darn Hot," and "Brush Up Your Shakespeare"--"Kiss Me, Kate" epitomizes the Broadway musical comedy at its best and is considered to be Cole Porter's most successful musical with the original production opening on Dec. 30, 1948 and running for an impressive 1,077 performances.

            “This is clearly the type of show that everyone thinks of when you say Broadway musical,” said Carl Daehler, executive director of the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts (VRCFA) at Shawnee State University (SSU). “‘Kiss Me Kate’ has a smart, witty look and glorious music and dancing. This production coming to Portsmouth is garnering great reviews across the country.”

            “Kiss Me Kate” is the winner of five Tony Awards for its 2000 Broadway revival. It also had success as a popular movie musical in the 1950’s starring Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson with the spectacular dancing of the great Ann Miller.

            Tickets are available through the McKinley Box Office located in the lobby of the VRCFA on the campus of SSU. Visa and Master Card are accepted for phone orders by calling (740) 351-3600. Box-office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

            Special family and student discount packages are available. Call the McKinley Box Office and ask about the second parent and second child special pricing.

            The performances of “Kiss Me Kate” at the VRCFA are sponsored by the Southern Ohio Medical Center, sponsor of the 2003-2004 Broadway Series. Additional sponsorship is by Anna Margaret Stillwell in honor of her aunt, Clara A. Daehler, and by grants from the Ohio Arts Council, Scioto Area Community Foundation and the SSU Development Foundation.

            Sign interpretation for the hearing impaired is available at the Tues., April 20, performance and audio description for the sight impaired available at the Wed., April 21, performance are provided by funds from CVS Pharmacies. Large type programs are also available upon request.

            SOPAA’s 2003-2004 season closes with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra performing concert music by Brahms, Rossini, Bruch and Mendelssohn under the direction of associate conductor Peter Stafford Wilson on Thurs., May 20, at 7:30 p.m. CSO concertmaster, Charles Wetherbee, will be the soloist in the Bruch Violin Concerto.

            For more information, call the McKinley Box Office at (740) 351-3600.

            “We want to reach not only Shawnee State students, but the public as well, in order to make everyone aware of volunteer needs in our area,” said Barbara Pratt, coordinator of volunteer services at SSU. “In addition, this gives the agencies that are participating a chance to utilize SSU students and gives students an opportunity to support the needs of the community.”

            In addition to regional agencies, this year’s event will feature booths set up by SSU clubs and organizations that perform community service projects throughout the year.

            “By having student groups at the event, it will allow for ideal networking opportunities for all involved,” said Pratt. “We also encourage all community members and other SSU students to join us to discover opportunities for volunteerism as well.”

            The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20, in the gymnasium of the James A. Rhodes Athletic Center at SSU.

            Organizations throughout the region in need of volunteers that would like to participate in this year’s event should contact Pratt at (740) 464-0556. The deadline to register is April 7.

            Shawnee State University (SSU) recently submitted the preliminary plan for the master’s degree in occupational therapy to the Ohio Board of Regents, according to David Todt, Ph.D., interim director, Graduate Center, and chair of the department of Teacher Education.

            After the Ohio Board of Regents reviews the preliminary plan and new degree proposal, the next step will be to approach the North Central Association, the institutional accrediting agency, about the change in status and then begin the accreditation process with the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy (ACOTE).

            “We are working on the full program proposal and receiving feedback from other Ohio institutions concerning our preliminary proposal,” said Todt. “The hope is that the first class will be admitted in fall 2005.”

            SSU has collaborated with The Ohio State University to develop the SSU program as well as with Cleveland State University to develop the program curriculum.

            ACOTE made a decision in 1999 to eliminate the bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy and require a master’s degree for entry-level positions.

            Since then, SSU has moved forward to develop a master’s degree in occupational therapy, which is celebrated in April with Occupational Therapy Month.

            Given the caliber of the department of occupational therapy’s faculty members, the process has moved along well, according to Debra Scurlock, program director of the occupational therapy program at SSU.

            “We have an experienced team taking us to the next level,” said Scurlock.

            Scurlock and the other three faculty members in occupational therapy are currently attaining either Ph.D.’s or master’s degrees. Scurlock is earning a Ph.D. in occupational therapy at Nova Southeastern College in Florida; Edward Kehres, senior instructor, is pursuing a Ph.D. in education at Ohio University; Christine Raber, assistant professor, is seeking a Ph.D. in health-related sciences with a specialization in occupational therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University; and Melinda Sissel, instructor, is pursuing a master’s degree in occupational therapy at the University of Findlay.

            In addition, the faculty members have a combined total of 33 years of experience with the department at SSU.

            “One sees longevity here, making our program that much stronger,” said Scurlock.

            Raber, who expects to complete her Ph.D. in May 2005, also brings to the program 20 years of experience as an occupational therapist. This longevity, she believes, helps support the wide range of learning experiences and student success.

            “In comparison to other regional OT schools, I feel SSU offers a high quality educational experience for students in our region,” said Raber. “Due to our small class size (20), we provide a low student to instructor ratio, and are therefore able to have a high degree of personal interaction with our students.”

            The program not only benefits the students who graduate, it also benefits the area by producing highly qualified individuals to meet the ever-growing needs of the profession.

            “Our graduates are well prepared to assume leadership roles in a wide range of practice settings, including emerging practice areas in the community where graduates may develop and implement new occupational therapy services,” said Raber. “This is particularly important to the fact that the region continues to be underserved in terms of occupational therapy services.”

            In addition, SSU will have active research occurring on campus when the master’s degree program is in place, said Scurlock.

            The occupational therapist assistant program at SSU will remain the same.

            For more information, call (740) 351-3225.

            Secretaries and office professionals are often the unsung heroes of the workplace, but with Shawnee State University’s (SSU) fourth annual Office Professional Day to occur April 22, there is no need for some of the most valuable employees in any business to remain unsung.

            Held each year in honor of Administrative Professional (Secretaries) Day, the half-day program is designed to provide office professionals time to relieve some stress while gaining valuable tools to use in the workplace.

            This year’s program, entitled “Strategies for Saving Your Sanity,” will feature guest speaker Mike Thompson, Ph.D., whose presentation will focus on upbeat ways to view life’s problems.

            According to Tracy Conn, a University Outreach Services representative at SSU, “Strategies for Saving Your Sanity” is a great way to reward employees.

            “Office Professional Day is an affordable training session that will appeal to a variety of people,” said Conn. “We understand that the workplace can be stressful, and Thompson will show some practical, enjoyable ways in which stress can be managed.”

            While some staff members may choose to make the event a whole day affair, the session will be conducted twice on the same day, once in the morning from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and again in the afternoon from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., to accommodate even the busiest schedules.

            “Hosting the seminar twice will give everyone in the office the opportunity to attend,” said Conn. “It also allows people the option of getting a half-day of work in or even taking the remainder of the day off. But this is a special day for those folks who work so hard all year and it’s our pleasure to pamper them while they are with us.”

            “Strategies for Saving Your Sanity” will be held in the Micklethwaite Banquet Hall located in the University Center at SSU. The registration fee is $59, with a 10 percent group discount for parties of five or more.

            For more information, call University Outreach Services at (740) 351-3490.

            The committees of the Board will meet in the University Center at SSU as follows:

·Finance and Facilities--9:15 a.m. in the Ketter Room;

·Quality of University Life--9:45 a.m. in the Howard Room;

·Academic Affairs--10 a.m. in the Founders’ Room.

             Shawnee State University (SSU) Theater will present Ken Ludwig’s “Lend Me a Tenor” in the Kahl Studio Theater in the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts at SSU from April 15 to 18.

            The widely performed and hugely popular farce, first produced in 1985, is set in a Cleveland hotel in 1934. The story goes that an opera is jeopardized when the lead Italian tenor falls into a drunken stupor. The impresario’s young but aspiring assistant gamely dresses up in costume and goes on as Otello. Meanwhile, the tenor awakens and dons his costume.

            “What then follows is a hilarious comedy involving two Otellos, a volatile Italian wife, an outrageous bellhop and a cynical impresario,” said Vivian Robson, associate professor of theater at SSU and lighting designer for the play. “This is a very funny, feel-good show with no objectionable content.”

            Directed by Jim Hayes, SSU adjunct faculty member, the play will be performed by SSU student actors Velma Brehm and Kasey Wallace, both of Portsmouth; Rebecca Bailey, of Russell, Ky.; David Hannah and Lonnie Morris II, both of South Shore, Ky.; Amber Myers of Jasper; Nathan Wheeler, of Wheelersburg; and community actor Charles Cummings of Wheelersburg.

            In addition, a beautiful art deco-inspired set has been designed by John Huston, a Portsmouth theater veteran and associate professor of theater at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, said Robson.

            Show times are at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 15 to 17; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 18. All tickets are $5 and available at the McKinley Box Office, located in the lobby of the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts. Box Office hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

            For more information, call (740) 351-3600.

            Every year Springfest, the annual post-winter celebration held at Shawnee State University (SSU), gets a little bit bigger. This year, it just got a whole lot bigger. SSU’s Student Programming Board, in conjunction with MTV and Pepsi-Cola, is hosting one of the biggest events to ever come to SSU, the MTV Campus Invasion Tour, at 7 p.m. on April 28.

            The tour, which will culminate in a concert played by three of today’s hottest bands-Hoobastank, Ima Robot, and Lostphrophets-is a sign of Springfest’s growing popularity, according to Tiffany Weaver, SSU’s student activities coordinator.

            “The entire campus is looking forward to MTV’s Campus Invasion Tour,” said Weaver. “We have had some big Springfest’s in the past, but this year promises to be even bigger and better than ever. We have had a lot of positive feedback from students about the artists we have lined up, and I think this will be a great event.”

            Springfest has been in existence for several years, and has played host to other big acts such as Nappy Roots, Blessid Union of Souls, and Sister Hazel, and also comedians such as Mark Curry. None, however, match the headlining power of Hoobastank, who currently hold the number 11 single on Billboard’s Hot Rock Track charts.

            The event will be open to the public, and will be surrounded by a week of activities at SSU. Tickets are available from the student activities office for $15 for students (purchased in advance; limit two per SSU ID) and $20 for general admission.

            For more information, call (740) 351-3217.

In celebration of National Volunteer Week, Shawnee State University (SSU) is hosting the 2004 Volunteer Expo: “Connecting People with Organizations” in an effort to encourage volunteerism among SSU students and the community.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20, in the gymnasium of the James A. Rhodes Athletic Center at SSU.

“We want to reach not only Shawnee State students, but the public as well, in order to make everyone aware of volunteer needs in our area,” said Barbara Pratt, coordinator of volunteer services at SSU. “In addition, this gives the agencies that are participating a chance to utilize SSU students and gives students an opportunity to support the needs of the community.”

More than 25 local organizations and agencies are scheduled to attend the event to showcase their organizations and make the public aware of their volunteer needs. They are: Hospice of Southern Ohio, Best Care Nursing and Rehab Center, Ohio State University Extension Office, Portsmouth Community Orchestra, Shawnee State Park, The Counseling Center, American Cancer Society, Community Action Organization of Scioto County, Inc. and Social Services, Vern Riffe School, American Red Cross, REACH, Southern Ohio Museum and Cultural Center, Community Partners of Shawnee Mental Health Center, Inc., Cancer Relay for Life, Scioto County Children’s Services, Heartland Hospice, South Shore Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Scioto County Citizen Corps, Portsmouth Area Convention and Business Bureau, Community Service for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Pleasant Hill Manor in Piketon, Girl Scouts-Seal of Ohio Council, Inc., SSU BASICS, RSVP of Scioto County, Jaycees, and the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts. Student organizations Circle K and Theta Phi Alpha will also be in attendance.

Door prizes for the event have been donated by the following businesses: Beulah Maple Cakes, Margie’s by Lola, Design Plus, Headquarters Styling and Tanning Place, The Wash N Shine, Sunset Lanes, Kroger of Portsmouth, Color Cut n’ Curls, Studio 32, Gloria’s Belle Cheveux Styling Salon, Fitness World, Ramada Inn, Country Store, Tim Doyle’s Landscaping, Front Row Video, The Lakes Golf Club and Pro Shop, Stroke of Genius Nail Salon, Luv Nails and Hair, Olan Mills, Newberry Sporting Goods, Boulevard Bouquet, Heartland of Hospice; SSU Bookstore, Southern Ohio Museum and Cultural Center, and Kirby’s Flower Shop.

Sponsors of the event include the SSU Office of Communications, SSU Office of Volunteer Services, WNXT-AM/FM, WZZZ-FM, the Portsmouth Daily Times, and the Community Common.

For more information, call (740) 351-3810.

            It’s a bird…it’s a plane…no, it is a collection of dust, ice, and gas that evaporates to produce a comet. Two such comets, C/2002 T7 LINEAR and C/2001 Q4 NEAT, will pass over the northern hemisphere in April and May, and will be the subject of a presentation by Timothy Hamilton entitled, “Watching Comets” in Shawnee State University’s (SSU) Clark Planetarium on two nights, Wednesday, April 28 and May 5, at 8 p.m.

            Comets, which are small, rocky, ice formations that orbit around the sun, spew off gasses and particles as they are heated by the sun’s rays, causing a tail that can be viewed from great distances. Although comets are usually only viewable through telescopes, some are close enough, large enough, and bright enough to be seen with the naked eye, such as LINEAR and NEAT. According to Hamilton, a physics professor at SSU who was formerly employed by NASA, comets visible to the naked eye are rare and present an opportunity for area residents to see something unique.

            “These are the first comets visible to the naked eye since the Halle-Bopp and Hayukatake comets back in the mid-to-late 1990’s,” said Hamilton. “We don’t know how big this display is going to be, because orbiting the sun heats up the comet and causes the tail to flare, and that is extremely unpredictable. But if there is any chance of seeing these comets with the naked eye, people should take a look.”

            The presentation will focus on explaining and illustrating how comets are formed and the particulars of how to look for the LINEAR and NEAT comets, and will be presented in the Clark Planetarium. With a 40-foot diameter viewing area and a state-of-the-art Digistar II projection system, the venue is the perfect place to illustrate cosmic events, said Hamilton. If weather permits, the audience will be invited to look through telescopes after the show. If the comets cannot be seen, then planets and nebulae will be observed, instead.

            “We have a fantastic facility for presentations like this,” said Hamilton. “Our programming expertise has also grown considerably in recent years, so instead of having to run canned shows and using provided soundtracks, we can now design our own shows and also narrate them. It certainly expands our repertoire.”

            Although Hamilton now works as a professor, his ties with NASA remain strong, as he continues to perform research on high-energy cosmic rays, black holes, quasars, and x-rays. Comets remain a passion, however, and he continues to stay up-to-do date with the latest in celestial activity.

            “I am operating a research program here, and I have several students helping me,” said Hamilton. “They really enjoy the experience too, and it is a great way for them to increase their research capabilities at an undergraduate level. It is a great opportunity.”

            Tickets to “Watching Comets” are $3 ($2 for kids 12 and under) and are available at the Planetarium door the night of the show. Seating is limited to 66, so the show will be shown again on May 5 and on later dates, if the interest remains.

            For more information, call (740) 351-3145.

Over 170 new members were inducted into Shawnee State University's chapter of Phi Eta Sigma, a national honor society, on April 13, at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts at SSU. “This is a big night for the SSU's Phi Eta Sigma,” said Larry Mangus, Ed.D., vice president for student affairs and adviser to the chapter at SSU. “There has never before in our chapter’s history been such a large number of inductees.” Honorary members from the university community who were inducted were Rita Rice Morris, Ph.D., president of SSU; Brian Richards, adjunct English instructor; Martha Rader, Ph.D., dean of the college of professional studies; and Tony Ward, senior instructor of sports studies/athletic training. Phi Eta Sigma officers are Ambra Knoche, president; Holly Amlin, vice president; Jessica Thompson, secretary; Jennifer Henman, historian; Eric Marit, treasurer. Pictured (L to R) are Jessica Thompson, Larry Mangus, Ambra Knoche, Holly Amlin and Eric Marit.

The following were inducted into Phi Eta Sigma at SSU:

            The Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission (OVRDC) and Shawnee State University (SSU) will present a major small business conference, “Expanding Your Markets in the 21^st Century, 2004 and Beyond,” on May 7 in the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts on the SSU campus in Portsmouth.

            Rebecca Banchy-McIlwain, finance director at OVRDC, said the conference will focus on opportunities for increasing sales and jobs in small business.

            “Individuals who attend will learn how to sell to the government, tap into overseas markets, discover ways to increase revenues through integrated marketing campaigns, and learn ways to help position a small business to tap new investment growth opportunities in southern Ohio,” she said.

            The conference, held in cooperation with Congressman Rob Portman (2nd Congressional District of Ohio) who will be the keynote luncheon speaker, begins with registration at 8 a.m. The opening session starts at 9 a.m. in the Main Theatre of the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts with Rita Rice Morris, Ph.D., president of Shawnee State University welcoming members in attendance. Joining Morris will be OVRDC’s executive director, Jeffrey Spencer; Opal Spears, Scioto County commissioner and OVRDC’s treasurer; and Mary Glasgow from Congressman Portman’s office.

            Four concurrent breakout sessions will be presented twice by a team of resource staff members from southern Ohio. They are: (1) “Doing Business with the Federal Government,” (2) “How to Tap Overseas Markets,” (3) “Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative (SODI)/Shawnee State University (SSU)/United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) Initiatives,” and (4) “Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Marketing Objectives.” Lunch will be held after the breakout sessions in the Selby Lobby of the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts at SSU.

            The conference will end with the keynote luncheon address by Congressman Portman, in the Main Theater of the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts. Joining the Congressman will be SSU President Rita Rice Morris along with T.J. Justice, director of the Governor’s Office of Appalachia and Bob Proud, Clermont County commissioner and chairman of OVRDC.

            “Thanks to the sponsorship of several financial institutions, there will be no charge for this valuable training conference,” said Banchy-McIlwain. “However, we do need to receive reservations by May 5 if someone plans to attend so we reserve spots and lunches.”

            For more information or to make reservations, visit www.ovrdc.org <http://www.ovrdc.org>, send a fax to (740) 947-3468 or contact OVRDC by mail at 9329 SR 220E, Suite A, Waverly, OH 45690-9012.

            Banchy-McIlwain said the conference will provide those in attendance with a host of new contacts and resources as well as information on how to expand a business through government contracts, exporting, and integrated marketing.

            “OVRDC, which is a 12-county development district serving southern Ohio, sees this conference as contributing to our overall goal of promoting development in the region,” she said.

            The Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission (OVRDC) and Shawnee State University (SSU) will present a major small business conference, “Expanding Your Markets in the 21^st Century, 2004 and Beyond,” on May 7 in the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts on the SSU campus in Portsmouth.

            Rebecca Banchy-McIlwain, finance director at OVRDC, said the conference will focus on opportunities for increasing sales and jobs in small business.

            “Individuals who attend will learn how to sell to the government, tap into overseas markets, discover ways to increase revenues through integrated marketing campaigns, and learn ways to help position a small business to tap new investment growth opportunities in southern Ohio,” she said.

            The conference, held in cooperation with Congressman Rob Portman (2nd Congressional District of Ohio) who will be the keynote luncheon speaker, begins with registration at 8 a.m. The opening session starts at 9 a.m. in the Main Theatre of the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts with Rita Rice Morris, Ph.D., president of Shawnee State University welcoming members in attendance. Joining Morris will be OVRDC’s executive director, Jeffrey Spencer; Opal Spears, Scioto County commissioner and OVRDC’s treasurer; and Mary Glasgow from Congressman Portman’s office.

            Four concurrent breakout sessions will be presented twice by a team of resource staff members from southern Ohio. They are: (1) “Doing Business with the Federal Government,” (2) “How to Tap Overseas Markets,” (3) “Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative (SODI)/Shawnee State University (SSU)/United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) Initiatives,” and (4) “Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Marketing Objectives.” Lunch will be held after the breakout sessions in the Selby Lobby of the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts at SSU.

            The conference will end with the keynote luncheon address by Congressman Portman, in the Main Theater of the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts. Joining the Congressman will be SSU President Rita Rice Morris along with T.J. Justice, director of the Governor’s Office of Appalachia and Bob Proud, Clermont County commissioner and chairman of OVRDC.

            “Thanks to the sponsorship of several financial institutions, there will be no charge for this valuable training conference,” said Banchy-McIlwain. “However, we do need to receive reservations by May 5 if someone plans to attend so we reserve spots and lunches.”

            For more information or to make reservations, visit www.ovrdc.org <http://www.ovrdc.org>, send a fax to (740) 947-3468 or contact OVRDC by mail at 9329 SR 220E, Suite A, Waverly, OH 45690-9012.

            Banchy-McIlwain said the conference will provide those in attendance with a host of new contacts and resources as well as information on how to expand a business through government contracts, exporting, and integrated marketing.

            “OVRDC, which is a 12-county development district serving southern Ohio, sees this conference as contributing to our overall goal of promoting development in the region,” she said.

            Kathleen DeBoer felt confident about her abilities when she transitioned to an administrative career as the primary fundraiser for the athletics department at the University of Kentucky (UK).

            Spending 13 years coaching volleyball, with nine of those as UK’s head coach compiling a 212-96 record, winning three Southeastern Conference championships, and advancing to the NCAA tournament four times, she felt her competitive, leadership, and teamwork abilities were in check.

            But those early years were primarily spent around women and as fundraiser for UK, she found herself working mainly with the opposite sex.

            “I have always been surrounded by a competitive environment. I just kind of thought sports were sports,” said DeBoer, now commissioner for General Services for the Lexington-Fayette Urban County government. “When I went into the role as the primary fundraiser at Kentucky, it was almost completely a man’s world and I spent the next 10 years in a male environment.”

            It was working in this capacity that DeBoer was inspired to write the book Gender and Competition: How Men and Women Approach Work and Play Differently.

            “The idea for the book just really just hit me over the head,” said DeBoer, who also played two years in the Women’s Basketball League from 1978 to 1980, one of the first professional leagues for women in the United States. “The people who I was working around were wonderful. I found the differences in gender fascinating and decided to study it.”

            DeBoer will present a free lecture, “Gender and Competition: How Men and Women Approach the World of Work and Play,” on May 12 at Shawnee State University (SSU) at 7 p.m. in the Flohr Lecture Hall in the SSU Clark Memorial Library. The public is invited to attend.

            DeBoer attacks neither sex, nor will she profess one gender better than the other, she said.

            “I go after both women and men with humor,” said DeBoer. “For us as a society to go forward with the diversity we obviously exhibit, whether it is with gender or race, we have to move forward with the concept of being different and equal. The only way to do that is to take value judgments out of the evaluation of differences.”

            Sports is a means to showcase these issues, but one not need be an athlete or sports lover to benefit from the presentation.

            “The fascinating thing is how the world of sports translates in work situations,” said DeBoer, who worked a total of 23 years in intercollegiate athletics.

            She served 18 years at UK, finishing her career as the senior associate athletics director. In that capacity DeBoer directed a successful $30 million capital campaign, raised over $10 million in private gifts to build an academic center, a softball/soccer complex, an outdoor tennis stadium, and an office complex, and accumulated $3.5 million in endowment money to fund student-athlete scholarships.

            During her college career, while competing at Michigan State University, she was a finalist for the Wade Trophy, the highest award given annually in women’s basketball.

            In her current government appointment, DeBoer has discovered that through her research of gender differences, she has benefited in her working relationships.

            “It helps me depersonalize situations,” said DeBoer. “It has allowed me to see my own behavior and other people’s reactions at ‘arm’s length.’ Depersonalizing of situations helps you keep your self-esteem. If we as males and females working with each other modify our behavior as a means to effectiveness when we are dealing with problems and situations, we can accomplish any task more effectively.”

            DeBoer, who earned an MBA from UK, has written numerous articles on competition, coaching and intercollegiate athletics. Her work has appeared in The NCAA News, the National Federation News, Women in Higher Education, Coaching Volleyball, Coaching Women’s Basketball, and Soccer Journal. She and her husband, Mark Pittman, reside in Lexington.

            This presentation, sponsored by the SSU Women’s Forum, is made possible by the Leslie Williams Symposium for the Advancement of Women with funding from the Jane M.G. Foster Distinguished Lecture Series.

            For more information, call (740) 351-3284.

Doug Robb of the band Hoobastank rocks Shawnee State University (SSU) as part of the MTV "Campus Invasion Tour" that swept through SSU on Wednesday April 28. Students line up beside the MTV inflatable balloon in front of the SSU Bookstore to get autographs from members of Hoobastank. The group performed to a sellout crowd in the James A. Rhodes Athletic Center on the SSU campus.

Held each year in the fall and the spring, the Bear Run, presented by SSU’s Division of Student Affairs, has developed into one of Portsmouth’s most popular events, attracting in excess of 500 participants to attempt the course each time. The Bear Run held last fall attracted a record 724 participants, and this spring’s Bear Run could be even more popular, as pre-event registrations have been flowing in.  

The reason the SSU Bear Run continues to grow in popularity, according to Larry Mangus, Ed.D., vice president for student affair at SSU, is because of its wide-ranging appeal.  

“The Bear Run/Walk presents 140 medals to walkers and runners in an array of age categories, so that anyone can be a part of the event,” Mangus said.  “We have a walker’s category so that those who do not run can enjoy the event.  It is an enjoyable experience because you are with a group of people.” 

The 3.1 mile course, which begins on Shawnee State University's campus and travels down historic Front Street by Portsmouth’s popular floodwall murals, is relatively devoid of hills, making for fast times for serious runners.  

The records for the current course are held by Eric Putnam of Chillicothe, who completed the Spring Bear Run last year in only 15:18, and Megan Ball of Londonderry, who ran the course in 18:46 last fall. With several cross-country teams including SSU’s competing in the event and other talented runners drawing from across the Tri-State area, the record could easily fall during the event. 

The Bear Run/Walk is free to all Golden Bears, students (from kindergarten up) and their families, and to all SSU alumni and their families, with a $10 fee to non-students or $12 for race-day registration. Registration begins at 4.30 p.m., with the race beginning at 6 p.m. 

For more information, call the SSU Division of student affairs at (740) 351-3280.