Cardinals,
By the time you read this issue of Towers, Otterbein will be catching its breath as it basks in a stretch of big successes. Your “quiet, peaceful village” has been anything but. In fact, your Otterbein campus is busier than ever with more students, more alumni, more partners, and more opportunities.
Let’s start with what I’ll rank up there as one of my favorite days in eight years as president of Otterbein University. I have never been prouder of our entire Cardinal community. On Wednesday, Sept. 24, Otterbein held its first campuswide professional development and career success conference — better known as READY Day!
We cancelled classes to give students the chance to immerse themselves in a different day of learning. Their focus: figuring out how to put their academic knowledge to work to plan for a successful career and life after Otterbein.
READY Day gave students one of three customized tracks to take advantage of keynote addresses, panels, workshops, and large-scale events that were aligned with their academic year of study. First-year students started their day by reflecting on their goals and ambitions for their major course of study. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors made professional contacts and leads at the Next Destination Fair that featured more than 130 companies, non-profit and government agencies, and graduate schools. Seniors ended the day mingling with alumni and industry leaders at professional networking receptions. Combined, students had access to more than 163 different sessions over the course of their day.
The energy on campus was undeniable. Our alumni were generous with their time and advice. Our keynote speakers were inspiring. Our volunteers and organizers hosted a tremendous day that our sponsors helped make possible. READY Day is the linchpin experience that crystallizes the purpose of Otterbein’s impressive four-year READY program. Thank you to all who supported READY Day. If you missed it this year, you can help us make it even bigger and better next year.
President John Comerford addresses students at the inaugural READY Day.
Virginia Phillippi Longmire ’55, receives the Mary B. Thomas ’28 Commitment to Otterbein Award with John Comerford at the 2025 Alumni Awards ceremony
We pivoted two short days later to welcome alumni and our students’ families to campus to celebrate Otterbein Homecoming and Family Weekend. We celebrated alumni award winners, enjoyed the company of our loyal giving society members, cheered on the 50th Golden Reunion Class of 1975, and took in the parade along with a full slate of great entertainment offerings and athletic competition. The Towers lawn made a picture-perfect background for these festivities. The weekend was a spectacular reminder of why it’s great to be a Cardinal.
Somewhere amidst these big days, we’ve been busy with other achievements you can read about in this issue — including one of the largest, most accomplished, diverse incoming classes in recent years, and the innovative enrollment ideas that helped so many new students land at Otterbein. Don’t miss the life-changing educational experience students had in the Galapagos, and learn about other faculty-led scholarly accomplishments.
You can be proud of your connection to this exceptional University and the traditions that build scholars and friendships as readily as setting the foundation for great success stories.
With Cardinal pride,
John L. Comerford, Ph.D.