College of Education and Human Services
A Few Parting Words From Julia Michalak
We catch up with senior physical education and sport performance major Julia Michalak between student-teaching classes during her final semester at Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ State. In a brief Q&A-style interview reflecting on her trials and triumphs from the past four years, Michalak offers some wise words for her younger self and for future Golden Flashes.
How a Nontraditional Student Became Portage County's Top Health Official
When Becky Lehman walked into her first class at Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ, she was in her 30s, raising kids and working at an embroidery shop in nearby Mogadore, Ohio. Today, she is the health commissioner for the Portage County Health District – a career milestone she credits directly to the degrees she earned close to home at Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ State.
She Hated Gym Class, and Now She’s Leading It
When we first met Julia Michalak, a senior in the Physical Education and Sport Performance program, in November 2025, she shared how the dread she felt going to gym class as a kid became the driving force behind her decision to become a physical education teacher. Now, as she prepares to graduate in May, we check back in – this time with Michalak and the two professors she credits with keeping her inspired along the way.
Preparing Behavioral Health Leaders for a Growing Workforce Need
As demand for behavioral health professionals continues to rise across Ohio and the nation, Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ is preparing graduates to not just enter the field right away, but to advance, lead and make a lasting impact in their communities. For three Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ State alumni — Cassandra Galloway, Victoria Giegerich and Jason Joyce — their paths may differ slightly, but their stories illustrate how Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ State connects education to real-world outcomes.
Students Go for the Gold on Spring Break
A group of Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ students will spend their spring break learning about the business of the Olympics, spending time in Italy and Greece and attending the 2026 Milan Cortina Paralympics.
Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ State Online Graduate Programs Earn Top National Rankings From US News
Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ has earned recognition in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Online Programs rankings. Three Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ State programs rank in the top 100 nationally among all public and private institutions in the new rankings.
IN A FLASH: Science Educator of the Year
A Professor in the Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ State's School of Teaching, Leadership, and Curriculum Studies was recognized as the 2026 Outstanding Science Educator of the Year.
‘We Create Magic for a Living – and We Get Paid for It’
In a fast-paced, reality TV-style competition, students in the Club Management class in Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ State’s Hospitality and Event Management Program worked in teams alongside industry professionals to create styled table settings themed around specific holidays.
IN A FLASH: Building Skills With 'Bots
Kid-friendly 'bots help young people learn about programming, counting, logical thinking and more.
The Interview That Turned Into an Inter-Generational Friendship
Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ State graduate student Lauren Paterson and former teacher Marc Myers were recently featured on WBUR’s ‘Here and Now’ sharing their work together on The Legacy Project.
