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(This article, reprinted with permission, featuring Mabel Gilbert Freeman, class of 1962, appeared in The Columbus Dispatch on January 2, 2012)  1/8/12

OSU students’ recruiter to retire

Mabel Freeman likes to think of the undergraduate students at Ohio State University as her babies.

For 27 years, she has been the one delivering them to the school and nurturing them through their college lives. “She is the heart, soul and face that brings students to Ohio State and supports them once they arrive,” Provost Joseph A. Alutto said.

But at the end of January, Freeman will retire from her post over admissions, freshman orientation and the school’s program for first-year students.

Next up: The 67-year-old Bexley resident plans to work part time at Columbus State Community College as a special adviser to President David Harrison. Her mission will be to work with area high schools so that more students show up college-ready, and to help guide more Columbus State students to graduation.

“She’s the matriarch of getting students into college,” Harrison said.

Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee called Freeman a “transformative force for Ohio State and the nation.”

“She will be sorely missed, but her legacy is both enduring and indelible,” he said.

Each of the past 11 freshman classes has entered Ohio State’s main campus with a higher grade-point average and higher test score average than the class before it. As important, students have graduated at a higher rate each year.

“I think that can be laid squarely on the shoulders of Mabel Freeman,” said Wayne Carlson, OSU’s vice provost for undergraduate studies.

Carlson praised Freeman’s work to create a first-year experience program, which is designed to help new students become comfortable on campus.

“Through research and our own experience, we know that foundations built during this year are key to their success,” Freeman said.

Area students will continue to reap the benefits of Freeman’s work, said her boss, Dolan Evanovich.

Last year, for instance, Ohio State and Columbus State created a program in which students who complete a two-year associate degree at the community college are guaranteed admission to Ohio State to pursue a bachelor’s degree.

“She’ll make a big splash at Columbus State, which is where we get a lot of our students,” said Evanovich, OSU’s vice president for strategic enrollment planning.

Freeman started her career as a teacher in the Columbus school district in the 1970s. She joined Ohio State in 1985 as assistant director of the school’s newly established honors center and became assistant vice president for first-year experience in 2000. A year later, she also started overseeing undergraduate admissions.

During her tenure, she helped guide the university from open to selective admissions — a process that began in 1987 to move Ohio State from a school for everyone to a national research and academic university.

“In those days, universities didn’t see themselves in the recruitment business; you just showed up,” Freeman said.

Smart, upbeat and witty, Freeman has a knack for making students and parents feel confident that Ohio State is the right choice, said Martha Garland, OSU’s former vice provost.

She also makes the job fun for employees with activities such as costume and chili-cook-off contests, Garland said.

“People want to work for Mabel. She’s very inspiring.”

Freeman called her years at Ohio State “amazing” and said it will be “very hard and emotional to leave.” But she’s looking forward to a new challenge at Columbus State.

“One of these days, I will clean out my basement and move to a condo like other people who retire,” Freeman said. “But I still think there are several good years in me.

“I’m just grateful to get an opportunity to continue to try to make a difference.”

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11/25/11

2010 grad Ross Friedman, a Harvard University sophomore men's soccer defender, earned All-Ivy honorable mention this season, leading the school in points and assists. He tied for fourth in the Ivy League in assists, playing in all of Harvard's 17 games.
 

2011 grads Lindsay Meyer, Libby Lisska and Zack Goodstein have received a national writing award for a story they co-wrote for the student newspaper, The Torch last year. Their 1600-word piece, "Use and Abuse: The truth about legal and illegal ADHD drug use and its prevalence among today's teenagers," was one of six in-depth stories nationwide to receive a Gold Circle award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. CSPA awarded the story a Certificate of Merit in the "In-depth news/feature story" category. The CSPA, affiliated with the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University, presents Gold Circle awards annually to a maximum of six entries nationwide per category.
 

11/15/11

(The following, featuring Richard Eiselt, class of ‘46, was submitted by his daughter, Rebecca Eiselt Daum, class of ’82)

Just a note to tip you off to an exhibit at the Bexley Public Library. It is a selection of most interesting collages and glass by architect Richard Henry Eiselt which you may find merits your attention. Please see attachments for sample. Thank You! Rebecca

Richard Henry Eiselt

Born and bred in Bexley, Ohio, a 1946 graduate of Bexley High School and 1953 graduate of The Ohio State University School of Architecture. After being employed by architectural firms in Columbus and New York, entered private practice circa 1955. Registered to practice architecture in 31 states and the District of Columbia. Appointed to the German Village Commission (original member) and Columbus Urban Renewal Commission by Mayor Westlake. Past president of the Columbus Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, Columbus Arts Council, past trustee of the Columbus Junior Theater of the Arts and Architect’s Society of Ohio. Recipient of a number of architectural excellence and photography awards. Retired from architectural practice in 1988. Produced first collage circa 1987.

Click on the thumbnails below to see larger image