Alumni and Friends Making an Impact

A service experience that opens a student’s heart and mind, a cross-disciplinary class that sparks a new passion — academic excellence at UD takes many forms, but its occurrence is no accident when we learn, lead and serve together.

“Striving for excellence is possible because the environment fostered here is a balance of academic rigor and empowering community provided by our faculty, staff and alumni,” said Darlene Weaver, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Students push boundaries, think creatively and engage deeply with their studies, which leads them to discover their passions and find solutions to the challenges present in our community today.”

As one of the three pillars of the We Soar campaign, academic excellence is more than just a goal; it’s a guiding force that shapes daily life at UD. The impact of this commitment can be seen across campus, throughout Dayton and beyond:

• Julian Pabon, a senior in mechanical engineering, found his passion for research in UD’s Low-Speed Wind Tunnel with Sid Gunasekaran, associate professor of mechanical engineering. As a result of their work and Gunasekaran’s mentorship, Pabon is helping advance morphing wing technology and is set to graduate with his name on a patent.
• The Health Equity Fellows program, a three-year cohort for students in health-related fields, infuses 8,000 hours of service with learning about health disparities. The program recently received a global honor and will be recognized in Rome as one of the best solidarity service-learning experiences in Catholic higher education.
• Teacher education students at UD complete 600 hours of in-class training in four years, double the licensure requirements in Ohio. With this preparation, Shannon Ahern ’24 entered her first job as a special education teacher in Illinois ready to make an immediate impact in her classroom.

To celebrate these students, experiences and initiatives that define academic excellence at UD, the University will host its first Academic Excellence Week from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4. It’s a time to recognize achievements, share stories and envision the future Flyers are building together.

“This week is a celebration as much as it is a reflection on how we prepare our students to face a complex world with both heart and skill,” Weaver said. “We honor the many ways our students, faculty, alumni and community bring UD’s mission to life every day.”

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