Finance and Administration News
Faculty, Staff Resource Fair, Immunization Clinic to be held Oct. 1
51ĀŅĀ× Human Resources will host its annual Faculty and Staff Resource Fair and Immunization Clinic on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
A botanical breakthrough: OHIO undergraduate and professor discover several new species of violets in the mountains of Virginia
When Collin Thacker began studying wildlife biology, he never expected to fall in love with a tiny, often overlooked flower. Now, in his senior year, Thacker has helped identify what may be four entirely new species of violets in the mountains of Virginia, two of them in the heart of Shenandoah National Park.
The discovery is the result of months of meticulous fieldwork, research and mentorship under OHIO professor Harvey Ballard, Ph.D., whose enthusiasm for violets sparked Thackerās unexpected botanical journey.
āDr. Ballard and his infinite passion for violets is just incredibly contagious,ā Thacker said. āWhen I began my time with Dr. Ballard, I couldnāt pick out a violet in a field full of them. But he was so knowledgeable and helpful that I found it pretty easy to catch on.ā
Thackerās work has focused on the collection, observation and cultivation of violet species in the wild. As part of his research, he has spent countless hours identifying subtle morphological differences, or traits, that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Environmental studies graduate completes 1,200-mile canoe journey to promote public lands conservation
After she graduated from 51ĀŅĀ× in May 2025, Helena Karlstrom had a busy summer.
Her summer wasnāt filled with job interviews or an internship, though, instead, she spent it in the wilds of Northern Minnesota and Canada. The Honors Tutorial College and Environmental Studies ³¾²¹Āį“Ē°łāa²Ō»å Voinovich Undergraduate Research Scholarājoined three friends in an all-female crew, dubbed the , for an epic 1,200-mile canoe trip to highlight stewardship of public lands and to inspire young girls to engage in paddle sports.
The entire trip took 85 days, starting at the Grand Portage near Lake Superior, through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA), one of the most remote nature areas in North America, then onto Lake Winnipeg before ending at the southern mouth of Hudson Bay in central Manitoba. The conditions were rugged, with volatile weather and whipping winds constantly dictating their daily route. They had to navigate through open water, canoeing through choppy waves and navigating rapids on certain rivers. And they did all of this while carrying 115-pound bags of gear.
The buzz around campus: OHIO remains pollinator-friendly with Bee Campus designation
A vast majority of the worldās plants depend on pollinators. Pollination is a crucial part of plant reproduction, and without pollinators, humans and all of earthās terrestrial ecosystems would not survive, according to the .
Through sustainable management of campus grounds, 51ĀŅĀ× remains committed to protecting and providing environments for vital pollinator species. OHIO recently received the designation for a fourth straight year. Bee Campus USA provides a framework for university and college campus communities to work together to conserve native pollinators by increasing the abundance of native plants, providing nest sites and reducing the use of pesticides.