Frances Strickland visits Miami Hamilton
October 9, 2006
Frances Strickland, wife of Ohio gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland, visited Miami University’s Hamilton campus Oct. 4 while on the campaign trail for her husband in Southwest Ohio.
According to Dr. Daniel Hall, Miami Hamilton Campus Dean, a Strickland aide called his office a couple of days earlier and requested a tour of the regional campus for Mrs. Strickland. No political endorsement was sought or provided, Dr. Hall said.
Discussion focus on statewide issues regarding education, economic development
Mrs. Strickland, who has a doctorate degree in educational psychology, met in The Conservatory with Dr. Hall, Miami University President Dr. David Hodge, Miami Provost Dr. Jeffrey Herbst, Education Department Chair Dr. Carine Feyten, Chemistry and Biochemistry Eminent Scholar Dr. Michael Kennedy, Hamilton Mayor Don Ryan and local entrepreneur Mahendra Vora. The discussion focused on statewide issues regarding education and economic development.
Dr. Hodge briefed Strickland on the state of the Oxford campus, emphasizing the new Miami Access Initiative plan to make Miami accessible to all academically-qualified students in Ohio regardless of income.
University commited to serve local communities
In his segue to Dr. Hall, the Miami president said the regional campuses are highly adept at embracing the university’s commitment to serve their local communities as well as the educational needs of Ohio.
Dr. Hall described Miami Hamilton’s SaturdaySelect and Degree Power programs as viable alternatives for adult learners balancing family and job by providing flexible and convenient class schedules that work for them.
Local partnerships key to growing Vora Technology Park
Vora, owner of Vora Technology Park in Hamilton (former building headquarters for Champion International Paper Co.), said he is trying to attract high-tech businesses and high-paying jobs to what he hopes will grow into the largest technology park in the country.
“The support I receive from Butler County, the City of Hamilton and Miami University is great. We have a partnership and all institutions are playing a key role. Economic development has to be a state priority, too, and state government officials have to be passionate about it and aggressive in their thinking,” Vora said.
To compete globally, Ohio talent must stay, work in Ohio
Dr. Herbst noted that per capita income in Ohio is substantially lower today than in recent years because rubber, steel, paper, chemical and other companies are moving away. Ohio must compete in the international business market and produce people who will stay in Ohio to work on an international stage, Dr. Herbst said.
Dr. Kennedy returned to his home state in August 2006 to do just that, under Ohio’s Third Frontier initiative to expand research capabilities and create high-paying, high-tech jobs in Ohio. He is an expert in the field of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Dr. Kennedy was reared in rural Ohio and graduated from Muskingum College. He earned his doctorate from University of South Carolina and most recently was a biological scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Washington.
He is now the principal investigator for an Ohio consortium working with children’s hospitals throughout the state, developing advanced diagnostic tools for early detection of childhood diseases.
