Ohio University to host Engage OHIO 2025: Community and place-based engagement symposium and awards ceremony

The Ohio University Center for Community Impact will host Engage OHIO 2025: Community and Place-Based Engagement Symposium on Friday, Oct. 24, at the Ohio University Inn & Conference Center.

This year’s event brings together two OHIO traditions—the Community Engagement Symposium and the Place-Based Teaching & Learning Symposium—into one dynamic gathering. Engage OHIO 2025 will shine a spotlight on innovative teaching, collaborative scholarship, and the many ways university-community partnerships contribute to positive social impact. Through interactive workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, participants will celebrate the power of engaged learning to enrich student success and strengthen communities across Ohio and beyond.

A special addition this year is the Place-Based Education Plenary and Community Engagement Awards Ceremony, to be held on Thursday, Oct. 23, at the Athens Armory. This evening event will honor individuals and organizations who exemplify excellence in engagement, highlighting the faculty, staff, students, and community partners whose work both uplifts regional communities and creates meaningful learning opportunities for OHIO students.

“We are fortunate to have such strong partnerships across our region and beyond, and Engage OHIO 2025 gives us the opportunity to celebrate the people and collaborations that make a real difference,” said Nukhet Sandal, Interim Associate Vice President for Community Impact.

The evening plenary will feature Leslie Cook, Head of Professional Learning at Teton Science Schools, who will share insights on the place-based education model. Since 2008, Leslie has trained teachers across the U.S. and internationally, helping connect students more deeply to their communities and environments. She and her colleagues have partnered with Ohio University since 2017 to advance leadership and engagement through place-based study and program development.

2025 Community Engagement Awardees include:

Community Engaged Faculty & Administrator Awards

• Community Engaged Administrator Award: Rebecca Robison-Miller
• Community Engaged Faculty Award: Dr. Lynn Harter

Outstanding Community Partner Awards

• Ohio University Eastern: Wendy Anderson & Lisa Kindler, St. Clairsville Chamber of Commerce
• Ohio University Chillicothe: Education Advisory Leadership Committee: Nick Barrows, Kelly Congrove, Dustin England, Sarah Hawthorne, Matt Hines, Matt Murphy, Lindsay McNeal, and Josh Tripp
• Ohio University Lancaster: Dr. Carri Brown, Fairfield County Auditor’s Office
• Ohio University Southern: Amanda Cleary, Third & Center
• Ohio University Zanesville: Keely Warden, Christ’s Table
• Ohio University Partner of the Year: Athens County Public Libraries

Additional Honors

• Community Campus Coalition Charles J. Ping Award for Community Service: Jess Mitchell, Arts & Sciences ’25

Registration for Engage OHIO 2025 is open until Oct. 10, or until capacity is reached. Click here to register and see the full schedule. For more information, please reach out to Courtney Lefebvre at lefebvrec@ohio.edu.