Bowling Green State University is starting its second century of excellence with an ambitious plan that will provide a better undergraduate student experience and give the campus a livelier look and feel. Additionally, the University and its five Centers of Excellence will play an increasingly important role in the state’s vitality in 2010 and beyond.

Plans for the next 100 years at BGSU have begun. In addition to construction, renovation and upgrading of the buildings and grounds, the University will further develop academic areas that are both strong and forward thinking

Construction is under way on a new convocation center and a new center for the arts. The Stroh (convocation) Center is a $36 million project that upon completion will house a 4,700-seat facility for basketball and volleyball games, graduation ceremonies, concerts and other community and campus events. The Wolfe Center, a 93,000 square-foot facility, will house the collaborative efforts of theatre and film studies, music and digital arts, and feature a state-of-the-art theater, classrooms, department of theater and film offices and work spaces for costume and stage shops.

In addition to those two building projects, BGSU President Carol Cartwright announced in June 2009 that the university would embark on a $100 million investment in the revitalization of campus.

“The funding comes from the capital budgets, and in some cases private donations and not the general fund or operating budget,” she said.

The investment makes possible a rigorous schedule to upgrade the residence halls and dining facilities, which will be integrated with academic buildings. The dining centers will become more of a destination, resulting in greater “cross-traffic” as students and faculty move about the campus in their daily lives.

The residence hall and dining facilities’ upgrades are part of a newly created Residence Life and Dining Services Master Plan aimed at improving the undergraduate student experience and ensuring the living and learning environment on campus has a seamless connection for students.

According to Steven Krakoff, associate vice president for capital planning and design, the additions and renovations will help make BGSU more competitive with its peer institutions. The University is paying close attention to quality of life issues such as living and dining, which have taken on increased importance when recruiting and retaining students.

“How a university stacks up to its competition is a huge factor today in students’ decisions about where to attend,” Krakoff said. “They look at housing, classrooms, labs in their majors, recreational centers. The physical facility weighs heavily.”

On the fast track, Phase 1 of the plan calls for two new buildings by 2011. The new plan was developed based on extensive surveys conducted in 2009 that looked at numerous aspects of campus housing and dining—at both BGSU and its competitors. “A substantial analysis was done of the condition of our facilities,” Krakoff said, and residence halls were also analyzed for their number and configuration of beds.

A major thrust of the plan will be to make the traditional living units for freshmen less dense so that space can be provided for programming and other means of building community and boosting learning. “We think this will vastly improve the freshman experience,” he said.

Ultimately, by the end of the second phase of the plan, the campus should feel much more like a series of neighborhoods, with dining centers no more than a five-minute walk from key student areas, housing for upperclassmen and graduate students and landscaping defining the campus boundaries.

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BGSU identifies Centers of Excellence
BGSU has identified five Centers of Excellence in response to the governor’s 10-Year Plan for Higher Education that asks each institution for its programs that have national and international ranking and can serve as magnets to attract talent and investment.

The University’s areas of strength are:

21st Century Educator Preparation
BGSU has for many years been the primary producer of education professionals in the state and among the largest in the region. It also produces specialists in such areas as school counselors, intervention specialists, administrators, speech pathologists and other professionals serving children and parents.

The University is well known for the quality of its educator preparation and has recently received reaccreditation from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education in both initial and advanced standards. In 2008, six of the Ohio “teacher of the year” awards in various specialties went to BGSU alumni.

The Arts
The University has strong, collaborative programs in visual arts, creative writing, music, dance, theatre and film that prepare students for careers. The arts also have an impact beyond BGSU. A 2007 study by the Center for Regional Development showed that the arts and arts-led industries contribute more than $2 billion per year to northwest Ohio.

A leader in many areas of the arts, BGSU is known equally for traditional and cutting-edge programs, as well as for its arts outreach to the community, both from main campus and BGSU Firelands. The synergy among the arts and academics on campus is a notable characteristic of BGSU, including the Arts Village Residential Community and the arts management minor.

Developing Effective Businesses and Organizations
A strong, competitive economy requires the development of effective organizations in the private sector as well as in the nonprofit, health care, social service and educational arenas. Developing talent and fostering innovation have been identified by the state as important factors in making Ohio competitive-and these necessarily involve the human side of organizational performance.

Addressing that need, BGSU has six programs across three colleges, comprising nationally ranked programs in industrial-organizational psychology, supply chain management and organization development, and leadership and policy studies. Other components are BGSU’s minor degree in entrepreneurship, the marketing department’s Institute for Service Excellence, and the Dallas-Hamilton Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.

Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan
The University’s distinctive approach centers not on the medical aspect of curing disease but on the promotion of wellness and improved quality of life. A recent study showed that if $10 per Ohioan had been spent on health promotion every year for the past three years, it would have yielded a 6-to-1 return on investment by now.

The University has more than 100 faculty members and nearly 5,000 students in 78 academic programs, research units and student activity groups. It has garnered $10.7 million in research grant awards and $900,000 in student support grants in the broad field of health and wellness, and has more than 300 partnerships with health organizations and agencies in the community.

Sustainability and the Environment
BGSU has numerous research areas directly related to sustainability, several of which fall under the scope of the Ohio Third Frontier Project. Partners in the proposed center come from across the University, from photochemical sciences and the Hybrid Vehicle Institute to physics and astronomy and the Department of the Environment and Sustainability.

The partners have an established record of achievement in basic and applied research, engagement and education related to sustainability and the environment. Externally funded research programs in alternative energy, environmental monitoring and global change have achieved international reputations. More than $17 million in external funding for projects related to sustainability and the environment has been received in the last three years.

Who were your role models growing up?  Why?
I had several role models growing up, most of them figure skaters. Scott Hamilton was a role model for me because of his great attitude towards life, the obstacles he’s overcome to succeed, and the way he has given back to the sport that made him famous. I always admired the way he entertained audiences. Also, Kurt Browning and Brian Boitano were role models for me. Kurt because of the way he made skating fun and Brian because of his consistency and focus.

On the same note, who or what had the greatest influence on your life?
Another role model for me has been my mother. My mother sacrificed so much for me so that I could pursue my dreams. She’s always believed in me and she has taught me to never give up no matter how hard the journey becomes. She has been such an important influence in my life and I’m so grateful to her for all she’s done and continues to do for me.

When did your interest in figure skating begin?
I cannot remember the first time I skated because I was so young, however, skating was always something that I enjoyed doing and I know that I made it my dream to become successful in skating. When I was young, I always imagined making figure skating my career so that I could skate forever!

What did you learn from sports growing up?
I have learned so many important life lessons from skating. Early on, I learned the importance of hard work, discipline, sacrifice, and how to win and lose graciously. As I spent more time in the sport, I learned how to accomplish goals by making detailed plans and following those plans. I also was able to learn from my mistakes and learn that failure can teach important lessons that winning doesn’t always teach. I’ve learned so much about myself and just being myself.

Can you tell us something in your childhood that contributes to your success today?
Growing up, my family didn’t have the resources to afford my skating career so I quickly learned to work as hard as I could, to manage my time, and to be productive on the ice. I also learned the responsibility of earning my own money to pay for my skating expenses. I think that this responsibility contributed to my success because it forced me to understand the importance of sacrifice and hard work to achieve my goals.

What do you like about BG?
I really enjoyed growing up in BG because there were so many opportunities to do different activities but it has the friendliness of a small town. I have so many fond memories of growing up in Bowling Green!

Why did you choose BGSU?
Growing up in BG meant growing up familiar with BGSU’s campus. Attending BGSU was an obvious choice because I lived in Bowling Green and I knew that the university offered great options. After I moved up to the Detroit area, I chose to remain with BGSU and finish my degree online which was a wonderful option considering my travel and training schedule!

What are some of the greatest personal challenges you have faced during your lifetime?
During my skating career I have faced several challenges. A few years ago, I came to a point in my skating career where I didn’t know if I wanted to continue skating. I had just had some disappointments and felt that I had failed myself and those around me. During that time, I seriously evaluated my choices and discovered that I still loved skating and that I still wanted to reach my goals in skating. Going through that time was difficult but I learned so much about myself.

If kids tell you, “l would like your job some day.” What advice would you give them?
I like to tell young kids to follow their dreams, to never give up their passion. If you find something that you enjoy doing, something that you want to have a career in, then do everything in your power to achieve those goals. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t and, most of all, enjoy what you are doing!

What personal attributes are important for success in this career?
One important personal attribute necessary for this career is the ability to handle failure and learn from mistakes. Because of the nature of our sport, skaters must learn perseverance  in order to be successful.

Was it always a goal to be a great skater?
Ever since I was a young skater, I had a goal of becoming a great skater. I loved skating and I wanted to be successful in skating so that it could become my career. I knew that if I became a great skater, I could continue to entertain audiences and perform in shows and competitions, which was something that I loved to do.

Why are role models important in the community?
I think it’s very important for athletes to be positive role models for others because we are highly visible and because young kids aspire to be like us. I take the responsibility of being a role model very seriously, and I hope to inspire young skaters to pursue their dreams and to, in turn, be good role models for others.

How has skating success translated into other successes in your life?
The life lessons that I’ve learned from skating have helped me to be successful in other areas of my life, as well. I try to apply those lessons to everything that I do, whether it is school or some other endeavor.

Describe a typical season.
The skating season usually begins in late spring/early summer. First, there is the choreography for new programs and technical work on program elements. Conditioning and strength training start at this time, as well. I usually start competing in July and August to practice competing and to gain feedback from the judges. In September, the major international competitions start. These competitions are important because they bring experience and opportunities to earn world standing points and prize money. These competitions usually run until December. In January, we have our most important competition of the year: the US National Championships. The results of this competition determine which skaters qualify for the World Championships and, as is the case this year, the Olympic Games. The competitive season generally ends in March or April. Throughout the year, and especially in the spring, I get invited to skate in ice shows around the country and around the world! Because of the abundance of show skating opportunities, skaters usually do not have an “off season.” We are busy throughout the year, between training, competing, and traveling.

Have you developed a system to work under pressure?
I have been working with a performance coach for several years, which has greatly improved my ability to perform under pressure. Staying in the present and enjoying each moment has really helped me to perform to the best of my ability.

What undertakings are you most proud of?
Two of my greatest accomplishments so far have been graduating from college (summa cum laude) and winning the US National Championships. What makes me the most proud is knowing that I’ve been able to inspire other people through my skating.

How do you inspire and cultivate athletics in the youth of today?
I think that athletics can teach today’s youth many important lessons.  Athletics require dedication and discipline, which are qualities that are important in all aspects of life. Athletics can also give young people confidence in themselves, as well as giving them the opportunity to learn more about themselves and what they are capable of accomplishing. In a world where gratification is immediate, sports can teach young people how to have patience and how to pursue their goals with determination and persistence.

As this season begins, what is your greatest priority?
Last season, my priority was gaining and improving upon each competition that I entered. I reached most of the goals that I had set for myself. This season, I want to enjoy every moment of the journey and I want to become the very best skater that I can be. I have made it a priority to keep my goals in my mind and to make each decision based on how it will affect my pursuit of those goals. And, of course, I want to inspire others to pursue their dreams and to use their talents to help others!

Tell us briefly about your family and that side of life we the public never get to see.
My family has always been an important part of my life. I am so grateful to my family for all that they’ve done to help me reach my goals. The unconditional love and support they give me has helped me to become the person that I am today.

Who are your current mentors and why?
I’ve had the privilege to be mentored by Brian Boitano and his coach Linda Leaver since 2007. Both of them have given me so much advice, both technical and other advice, and I am very much honored to have received so much help from them. I’ve learned so much about skating and competing from both of them!

What do you see yourself doing in 10 years?
I cannot imagine what I will be doing in ten years but I hope that I will still be skating and be involved in the skating community. The sport has given me so much and I want to give back to the sport. I would love to skate in shows for a long time and I would love to continue traveling!

What is the one thing you would like us to remember about you once your career is over?
I want to be remembered not only for my skating but also for the person that I am. Skating is important to me but I think it is more important to let my light shine for others.