Our people and programs are making news every day.

Newsroom

At Otterbein, our president is focused on college affordability. Our professors are leading the way in curriculum development. Our Center for Community Engagement is winning awards for its dedication to serving others. These are only a few of the people and programs you’ll read about in our Newsroom.

Media inquiries can be directed to:

Jenny Hill 
Director of Communications
jhill@otterbein.edu 
(614) 823-1284
(614) 370-3221 (cell)

Media Resources

Otterbein Fast Facts:

Location: Westerville, Ohio
Founded: 1847
Control: Private not-for-profit
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges & Universities
Size & Setting: Four-year, small, highly residential
Enrollment: 3,000
President: John Comerford, Ph.D.
Colors: Tan and Cardinal
Mascot: Cardinal

News Stories:

Cool Courses: Global Perspectives in Sport


News - October 13, 2023
There is more to sport than what happens on the field or court. Sometimes, there are outside influences that have larger impacts than wins and losses. Most recently in the news, the International Olympic Committee has banned and cut funding for the Russian Olympic Committee, after the ROC claimed athletes from occupied regions in Ukraine as Russian. What will be the ripple effects of that decision? Associate Professor of Sport Management Megan Chawanksy would know. She teaches a course called…

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Everybody is Invited to the Department of Theatre and Dance’s New Production, “Everybody”


News - October 13, 2023
Death has come, but Everybody, an ordinary human, can’t go quietly, and most certainly can’t go alone. Desperate to hold onto something familiar, Everybody looks to Friendship, Kinship, Stuff, Mind, Five Senses, Understanding, and Love to accompany them on this unexpected journey to the great beyond. Based on the 15th century morality play, “Everyman,” this Pulitzer Prize finalist is a wildly funny and heartfelt ride in search of the world’s greatest mystery, the meaning of life. The Otterbein University Department…

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Meet Otterbein’s New Director for the Office of Social Justice and Activism


News - October 13, 2023
In the short time Selethia Benn has been on campus, she has made a big impression. With her background in K-12 education, she brings a fresh perspective and energy that has been appreciated on campus. Students have made the Office of Social Justice and Activism a popular hangout and safe space, and faculty and staff have found her to be a valuable resource. Let’s Learn more about Otterbein’s new director of the Office of Social Justice and Activism, Selethia Benn.…

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Ask the Expert: Five Tips for a Successful Interview 


News - October 5, 2023
How can I get the job? Students want to know the best tips for having a successful interview and what questions are important to ask.    Associate Director Paul Newell works at Otterbein’s Career for Student Success and Career Development and gave his top five tips for students to have a successful interview.   1.) Research: Do your research regarding the company and write down any information that is important on an index card. You can use this information during a phone…

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Fall Migration Season is the Perfect Time to Join BirderBein 


News - October 5, 2023
By Maggie Nicol ’25  Fall migration season is the perfect time for birdwatching, and while some may think that bird watching is for older adults, Otterbein has an active birdwatching club on campus. Junior Katelyn Shelton, a Zoo and Conservation Science major, started BirderBein to make friends, step away from the things that stress students most, and appreciate the beauty of the natural world.  Growing up, Shelton was involved in Ohio Young Birders Club and served on the advisory board.…

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Otterbein Theatre Chair Lights Up “Swan Lake” for Australian Ballet 


News - October 5, 2023
Associate Professor T.J. Gerckens is using his sabbatical to further master his skills as a lighting designer halfway around the world. Gerckens, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, designed the lighting for the Australian Ballet’s new production of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.  A recording of the production is available to stream through Oct. 13 for $19 USD per screen. During the second interval (intermission) of the stream, there is an interview with Gerckens about the lighting of the ballet. This…

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Otterbein Professor Ava Liu Discusses Marketing and Digitalization of Insurance Companies like Progressive


News - October 2, 2023
https://wallethub.com/edu/ci/progressive-car-insurance-review/62427#expert=Yiyuan_Ava_Liu

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How to run an ASBMB Student Chapter


News - October 2, 2023
A conversation with John Tansey, a professor at Otterbein University and adviser to the winner of the 2023 ASBMB Outstanding Chapter Award. https://www.asbmb.org/asbmb-today/education/092723/how-to-run-an-asbmb-student-chapter

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Graduate School, Work, Life: How do you “balance”?


News - September 27, 2023
Hello everyone!  We are well into the fall semester by now, and we hope students and faculty are still feeling some of the positive energy and sense of hope that accompanies the start of a new semester. Over the past few years, the graduate directors have discussed the needs and realities of graduate students and adult learners.   Flexible scheduling helps students attend classes at times and/or in a format that accommodates their work schedules, and it can reduce or eliminate…

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Diverse Perspectives Belong in Education


News - September 27, 2023
As teachers across the nation grapple with book bans, censorship, and backlash regarding Critical Race Theory (CRT), Ohio colleges and universities grapple with Senate Bill 83. SB 83, in short, overhauls public universities by creating policies for vaguely defined "intellectual diversity" and controversial concepts; banning mandatory DEI programs and training; banning affinity groups and affirmative action policies; banning public positions on vaguely defined “controversial” issues; banning striking and forms of collective bargaining; and several other provisions. The Otterbein University Education…

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