The School of Professional Studies focuses on the connection between theory and practice. Whether through collaborative efforts within or across departments, outreach to the community or innovative approaches to teaching and learning, we are committed to providing our students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in the workplace and community.

Department of Nursing Receives Grant
The Ohio Board of Nursing awarded the Otterbein Department of Nursing nearly $200,000 for its 2-year project, FLAME: Fostering Leaders, Advocates, Mentors and Educators, beginning in September 2009. The project helps prepare licensed nurses in the skill sets of nurse educator and clinical nurse leader through an innovative education/leadership program.

Otterbein will expand on current collaboration with Fairfield Medical Center to collaborate with the Department of Veteran Affairs Chalmers P. Wylie Ambulatory Care Center to prepare students through intension mentored education and leadership immersion experiences. Through the use of distance technology and an accelerated format, the FLAME model will be implemented with students to complete a combined Nurse Educator and Clinical Nurse Leader program leading to a Masters Degree in Nursing and a Nursing Education Certificate. These Master's prepared nurse leaders will be encouraged to remain in their communities to improve health care quality, promote advocacy and/or serve as educators or mentors of pre-licensure nursing students.

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Otterbein Wins Two National Equine Championship Titles
Greg Schmid rides to the championship.Congratulations to the Otterbein College Dressage Team Otterbein's Gred Schmid and Colleen Grant won championships in the IDA National Championship Horse Show on April 18-19, 2009. Greg, a senior equine pre-vet major, earned the title in the First Level Division. Colleen, a freshman equine health technology major, earned the title in the Introductory Division.

Otterbein's team finished with a fifth place overall title. Team riders were Greg Schmid; Jocelyn Pierce, senior international studies major; Catelyn Gleason, sophomore equine business and facility management major; and Macy Drinkhouse, junior equine pre-vet major.