CFAES Connect: May 2019

At Spring Commencement, 735 individuals joined the CFAES alumni family.  CFAES has more than 43,000 living alumni worldwide, representing every department within the college and the Agricultural Technical Institute.   Here are a few fun, fast facts on this incoming class of alumni: 

• 758 degrees earned 
  • 3 percent earned their PhD 
  • 6 percent earned their MS 
  • 70 percent earned their BS
  • 21 percent earned their associates 
• 54% were female 
• 46% were male 
• Ranging in age from 19 to 52 years old 
• 2% were International students representing 11 countries around the world 
• 12% were out-of-state students representing 22 states 
• 86% were Ohio residents 

Many of these individuals are just beginning their journey with Ohio State, others are off to the next step in their careers.  No matter what stage of life they are in.  We hope that they hold their time with CFAES close to them and reconnect often.  If you are one of these new Alums, we would love to hear from you once you get settled in a new city or job.  You can reach out to CFAES Advancement at CFAESAlumni@osu.edu.  Congratulations to CFAES's Class of 2019!

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Keith DiDonato began May 20 as the new chief advancement officer of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. DiDonato leads and develops the CFAES Office of Advancement, which includes fundraising, alumni relations, and marketing communications.

Previously, he was the associate vice president for development at The College of Wooster, where he oversaw the major and planned giving programs, annual giving, and the parents and family giving program. In that role, he was directly involved with the largest fundraising year in the history of the institution, adding $40 million to the school’s campaign.  To Read More on Keith DiDonato, Click Here 

Your time on campus may have come to a close, but making your voice heard at The Ohio State University has never been so easy. The Buckeye Room – open to all alumni – is an insight community that engages Ohio State graduates across the world who want to provide input on issues and topics that are currently important to the university.

Since its beginning in 2014, almost 10,000 alumni have joined the community to put in their two cents by spending a few minutes each month engaging in a handful of survey questions via computer or mobile phone. Feedback received from Buckeye Room has gleaned insights in a whole host of topics, such as:

• How student loan debt is affecting alumni and how Ohio State can help
• What features should be prioritized in developing an alumni mobile app that aligns with the needs and interests of alumni
• How to improve the Ohio State football ticketing process
• And many more

Feedback community members of Buckeye Room also get special perks and exclusive inside access. By taking part in surveys, members are brought into the loop at the early stages of initiatives and help make a big impact from the start. Results of surveys are even shared in The Buckeye Room member hub, a private page only accessible to community members, so that you never are left wondering what happened with your feedback.

Of course, it’s not all about research in The Buckeye Room. Our members can also get their 15 seconds of fame. Buckeye Room members can be featured in Ohio State Alumni Magazine in the popular “The Ask,” a section that allows Buckeye Room members to pose questions to featured guests, such as head coach Ryan Day, or to share their treasured memories, such as what you did to celebrate your college graduation.

But the fun doesn’t stop there. To say thank you, for every activity completed in Buckeye Room, participants are given one entry into the quarterly $50 sweepstakes. You may even win an autographed football from two-time Heisman Trophy winner, Archie Griffin!

But don’t just take it from us, we asked some of our Buckeye Room members what their favorite part of being a Buckeye Room member is:

“I feel more connected to OSU now than I did for many years. Thank you.”

“I love hearing about what is going on at OSU and reading other people’s experiences. It reminds me why I am so proud to be a Buckeye.”

“I love being able to voice my opinions on all things Ohio State as well as others being able to do the same…”

Are you interested in joining this exclusive, alumni-only feedback community? It’s easy, simply visit https://www.buckeyeroom.osu.edu/join, fill out the welcome survey, and you’re in.

We’ll see you in The Buckeye Room!

The 2020 CFAES Alumni Awards nominations are due June 30, 2019.  Awards are given annually in four categories:  

Meritorious Award: The purpose of the Meritorious Service Award is to give public recognition to non-alumni and/or alumni of the college who have been singularly significant in the college’s quest for excellence.

Distinguished Alumni Award: The Distinguished Alumni Award gives public recognition to those who have brought distinction to themselves, and the college at large through their participation, commitment, and leadership.

International Alumni Award: The International Alumni Award is presented to outstanding international agriculture alumni representing, supporting, and promoting the college and The Ohio State University around the globe.

Young Professional Achievement Award: The Young Professional Achievement Award recognizes alumni for their early professional accomplishments. This award provides recognition for these individuals and serves as a stimulus toward further efforts by younger alumni.  Honorees are to be no more than 35 years of age at the time of the award ceremony.  

Here are some important dates to remember:

• Sunday, June 30, 2019 - Nomination Applications due 
• Saturday, March 7, 2020 - Alumni Awards Luncheon 

Completed nominations should be sent to CFAESAlumni@osu.edu.

To nominate an individual, find the formal application and other resources here.