From health equity to renewable energy: OHIO’s speaker series tackles pressing public service issues

Each semester, the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service welcomes public service experts to share their insights and host discussions about current topics that impact communities in Ohio and around the globe. This semester's series covers a broad swath of information, from improving the quality of drinking water in Appalachia to useful acumen on how to build a successful team culture.

“The series aims to share perspectives on issues important to people living and working in Ohio,” said Tracy Plouck, dean of the Voinovich School. “Through lively presentations and discussion, we explore topics such as leadership development, energy and environment, community infrastructure, entrepreneurship and economic development, social innovation, and health and wellness.”

The sessions, which are hybrid in modality and open to the public, are scheduled once per month through the academic year. Some speakers present in-person and some remotely, but attendees can always choose to join a watch-with-pizza session on the Athens campus of Ohio University. Attendees may also participate through Zoom and all sessions are recorded and available on the Voinovich School’s YouTube channel.

Registration is encouraged. More details about the speakers and presentations can be found in the Calendar of University Events (CUE).

Mark your calendar to attend this semester’s events:

Friday, Sept. 22, 12 p.m.: Driving Team Culture to Leadership Success
Ohio Alumna Stephanie McCloud, chief of staff for the Office of Governor DeWine will share her approach to understanding team culture and why driving that dynamic is the key to success.

Wednesday, Oct. 25, 12 p.m.: Health Equity in Public Service: A Collaborative Opportunity
Dawn Thomas, prevention systems manager at Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (OhioMHAS), will define health equity terminology and intersectionality of those terms, provide an overview of social determinants and how they impact health, and explore the value of cross-sector collaboration for improved health outcomes.

Wednesday, Nov. 15, 12 p.m.: Improving Drinking Water Quality in Central Appalachia
Hannah Patton, environmental engineer with Eastern Research Group, Inc., will detail her research on point-of-use treatment options to improve drinking water quality and reduce exposure to common contaminants prior to consumption.

Friday, Dec. 1, 12 p.m.: State of Renewable Energy
Ohio Alumna Sarah Conley-Ballew, assistant director of development for the Solar and Storage Industries Institute (SI2) will provide an update on policies and actions driving uptake of renewable energy in the U.S.