HIST 4798/5798: Recording Memory: Methods and Uses of Oral History

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  Oral History of Don Adleta, Faculty Emeritus Conducted on March 13, 2025 By Max Kornblut

  Don Adleta and Max Kornblut

  Don Adleta is a faculty emeritus of Ohio University. A graduate of the Basel School of Design in Switzerland Adleta began to teach after at the Rhode Island School of Design with a focus on semiotics and how they relate to design principles. With professional experience with Upjohn Pharmaceuticals, Adleta came to Ohio University as chair of the graphic design program. Both teaching and overseeing faculty and students within the program Adleta spent his time contributing to Athens and Ohio University before retiring. Now Adleta spends his time with his husband and helping preserve graphic design elements and devices, such as printing presses, across Appalachia.

  This interview was conducted as part of a class project for Recording Memory: Methods and Uses of Oral History, Spring 2025, Alexander G. Lovelace (Ph.D.) Instructor

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  Oral history of Mr. Jeffery Chaddock Conducted on April 17, 2025 By Bryson Phillip Pantoja

  Jeffery D. Chaddock and Bryson Phillip Pantoja

  Mr. Jeffery D. Chaddock shares his personal history and reflects on the many philanthropic efforts he and his husband, Mark Morrow, have undertaken—particularly in support of the arts and environmental conservation in Appalachian Ohio.

  Among their most impactful contributions are a $25 million endowment to Ohio University's College of Fine Arts and a separate $20 million gift to support the Ohio University Press and the university's Pride Center. In recognition of their generosity, the College of Fine Arts was officially renamed the Jeffery D. Chaddock and Mark A. Morrow College of Fine Arts in 2024.

  Mr. Chaddock also discusses the cultural and political changes he witnessed during his time as a student at Ohio University. His story—and his enduring commitment to the region—represent an important chapter in the ongoing history of southeastern Ohio and the university.

  This interview was conducted as part of a class project for Recording Memory: Methods and Uses of Oral History, Spring 2025, Alexander G. Lovelace (Ph.D.) Instructor

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  Oral history of Thomas E. Davis, Ph.D. Conducted on APRIL 10, 2025 By Mariam Pandam Alhassan

  Thomas E. Davis and Mariam Pandam Alhassan

  Dr. Tom Davis, Emeritus Professor at Ohio University, has been part of the Bobcat community for over 50 years—as a student, faculty member, and administrator. After transferring to the Athens campus in 1969, he earned degrees from Marshall University and Ohio State before returning to Ohio University as a counselor, later serving as Dean of the Patton College of Education, secretary of the Board of Trustees, and interim vice president for University Advancement. A former pole vaulter and track athlete, he remains a passionate supporter of OU athletics, continuing to raise support for the teams even after his 2011 retirement.

  This interview was conducted as part of a class project for Recording Memory: Methods and Uses of Oral History, Spring 2025, Alexander G. Lovelace (Ph.D.) Instructor

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  Oral history of Dr. Carl Jón Denbow, Director of Information for the College of Osteopathic Medicine Conducted on 02/20/2025 by Angel David García García

  Carl Jón Denbow and Angel David García García

  Dr. Carl Jón Denbow discusses his history, how he became the Director of information for the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Ohio University, and his time in this position.
  
  This interview was conducted as part of a class project for Recording Memory: Methods and Uses of Oral History, Spring 2025, Alexander G. Lovelace (Ph.D.) Instructor

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  Oral History of Professor Hannah Denbow Conducted on February 19, 2025 By Margaret Spetz

  Hannah Denbow and Margaret Spetz

  Professor Hannah Denbow served as an English professor at Ohio University for thirty years, from the 1980s through the 2010s, teaching grammar, composition, technical writing, and service learning courses. A 1968 Ohio University graduate in English, she returned to Athens, Ohio, after several moves with her husband, Dr. Carl Denbow, where they both worked at the university. Over her career, she witnessed significant cultural and political changes on campus, in Ohio, and across the United States. Now retired, she continues to live in Athens with her husband.

  This interview was conducted as part of a class project for Recording Memory: Methods and Uses of Oral History, Spring 2025, Alexander G. Lovelace (Ph.D.) Instructor

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  Oral History of Richard Dickerson Conducted March 24th, 2025 By Mary Katherine Grace McNamee

  Richard Dickerson and Mary Katherine Grace McNamee

  Richard “Dick” D. Dickerson, a proud native of Appalachia Ohio, shifted from architecture to civil engineering after Ohio University dropped the architecture program. He graduated top of his class in 1980 and began a long career in the energy sector, founding Utility Technologies International Corporation. In 2018, he transitioned the company to employee ownership and became chairman of the board. Married to Joan for 33 years, they have two children—Abby, an architecture graduate, and Connor, an energy engineering graduate. In 2024, Governor Mike DeWine appointed Dickerson to Ohio University’s Board of Trustees.

  This interview was conducted as part of a class project for Recording Memory: Methods and Uses of Oral History, Spring 2025, Alexander G. Lovelace (Ph.D.) Instructor

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  Oral History of Sharon Lee Fales Conducted on February 10th, 2025 By Mary Katherine McNamee

  Sharon Lee Fales and Mary Katherine Grace McNamee

  Sharon Fales, widow of Dr. James Fales, met her husband in college while pursuing a degree in education. She became a first-grade teacher as James advanced in his engineering career. They later moved to Athens when James accepted a teaching position at Ohio University. Over his 20-year tenure as Chair of the Industrial Technology Department, Dr. Fales also served as Director of the Center for Automatic Identification at Ohio University, was Professor Emeritus, Associate Director of the Robe Leadership Institute, and Leader-in-Residence at the Global Leadership Center. Together, Sharon and James endowed an annual scholarship for non-traditional students, as Dr. Fales was, at times, a non-traditional student himself and always maintained a soft-spot for those in the same position. In this interview Sharon talks about her life with James here in Athens, at Ohio University, and beyond.

  This interview was conducted as part of a class project for Recording Memory: Methods and Uses of Oral History, Spring 2025, Alexander G. Lovelace (Ph.D.) Instructor

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  Oral history of Dr. Marvin Fletcher Conducted on February 7, 2025 By Bryson Phillip Pantoja

  Marvin Fletcher and Bryson Phillip Pantoja

  Dr. Marvin Fletcher discusses his history, and his professorship at Ohio University, where he taught twentieth-century U.S. history, U.S. military history, African American history, and American Jewish history until his retirement. He also discusses several books he authored during his life. Over the course of his time at Ohio University, Dr. Fletcher witnessed several cultural and political shifts at the university, in the state of Ohio, and in the United States more broadly.

  This interview was conducted as part of a class project for Recording Memory: Methods and Uses of Oral History, Spring 2025, Alexander G. Lovelace (Ph.D.) Instructor

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  Oral History of Dr. John Kopchick, Goll-Ohio Eminent Scholar and Professor of Molecular Biology Principal Investigator, Edison Biotechnology Institute Conducted on March 11 and 13, 2025 By Max Kornblut

  John Kopchick and Max Kornblut

  Dr. John Kopchick, a Goll-Ohio Eminent Scholar, joined Ohio University as a Professor of Molecular Biology. During his career, he co-invented the prescription medication Somavert, the sale of which provided Ohio University with annual royalties that helped establish the Translational Medicine Doctoral Program. He currently teaches, conducts research, and serves as Principal Investigator for the Institute for Molecular Medicine and Aging and the Edison Biotechnology Institute.

  This interview was conducted as part of a class project for Recording Memory: Methods and Uses of Oral History, Spring 2025, Alexander G. Lovelace (Ph.D.) Instructor

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  Oral history of Mr. John Kotowski, Vice President of Facilities Management Conducted on 03/24/2025 By Angel David García García

  John Kotowski and Angel David García García

  Mr. John Kotowski discusses his history, how he became the Vice President of Facilities Management at Ohio University, and his time in this position.
  
  This interview was conducted as part of a class project for Recording Memory: Methods and Uses of Oral History, Spring 2025, Alexander G. Lovelace (Ph.D.) Instructor

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  Oral History of Dr. Steven Miner Conducted on February 26, 2025 By Meg Corner

  Steven Miner and Meg Corner

  Dr. Steven Miner is a retired professor of Russian and Soviet history at Ohio University. Born in New York in 1956 and earned his PhD in history from Indiana University in 1987. Prior to graduating, Ohio University hired Miner in 1986 where he would teach and serve as an administrator in the history department until his retirement in 2023. Notably, his roles included Contemporary History Institute Director, History Department Chair, and Graduate Director for the History Department. As a historian, Miner has conducted extensive research in the former Soviet Union and Russia. He published several books on Russian history including - 1945 (2003), Between Churchill and Stalin: The Soviet Union, Great Britain, and the Origins of the Grand Alliance (2017), and The Furies Unleashed: The Soviet People at War, 1941-1945 (2023). He lives in Athens with his wife Doreen. They have two adult children, Sam and Emily.

  This interview was conducted as part of a class project for Recording Memory: Methods and Uses of Oral History, Spring 2025, Alexander G. Lovelace (Ph.D.) Instructor

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  Oral History of Patty Mitchell Conducted on March 27, 2025 By Meg Corner

  Patty Mitchell and Meg Corner

  Patty Mitchell is an artist and social entrepreneur whose work focuses on facilitating collaboration between artists with and without developmental differences. She graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography in 1987 and a Master of Fine Arts in Photography in 1987. While at Ohio University as an undergraduate, Mitchell was a resident volunteer at the Athens Mental Health Center, known currently as The Ridges. Her work with developmentally different residents inspired her to found Passion Works Studio in 1998 to foster connections and purpose through the arts for people with developmental differences. Through this collaborative community arts core artists which is now the official flower of Athens, Ohio.

  In addition to being the founder and executive director of Passion Works Studio, Mitchell has previously served as a field representative and artist-in-residence at the Ohio Arts Council. Since 2012, she has been the co-founder and director for Honey for the Heart, a puppet and community performance company. Since 2015, Mitchell has served as the CEO of Creative Abundance Consulting, which assists other organizations in enhancing the wellbeing of people with developmental differences. She is also a community fellow at Ohio University with the Barbara Geralds Storytelling Institute. Patty Mitchell has coauthored Upcycling Sheltered Workshops: A Revolutionary Approach to Transforming Workshops into Creative Spaces with Susan Dlouhy. Mitchell has received a Distinguished Alumna Award from Award from the Ohio Arts Council, a Citizen of the Year Award from Civitan, and a Keystone Award from Ohio University for outstanding community service.

  This interview was conducted as part of a class project for Recording Memory: Methods and Uses of Oral History, Spring 2025, Alexander G. Lovelace (Ph.D.) Instructor

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  Oral History of Mr. Thomas O’Grady Conducted on March 27, 2025 By Margaret Spetz

  Thomas O'Grady and Margaret Spetz

  Thomas O’Grady holds a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management from Ohio State University and a Master’s in Environmental Planning and Design from Ohio University. For more than four decades, he has taught Observational Astronomy at Ohio University.

  Beyond academia, O’Grady has been a prominent advocate for historic preservation in Athens and on the Ohio University campus, with notable efforts to protect the Athens Asylum. He previously served as Executive Director of the Athens County Historical Society and Museum and now works as the Director of Development and Outreach for the Southeast Ohio History Center.

  This interview was conducted as part of a class project for Recording Memory: Methods and Uses of Oral History, Spring 2025, Alexander G. Lovelace (Ph.D.) Instructor

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  Oral History of Robert Stewart former Director of the E.W Scripps School of Journalism Conducted on March 18 2025 By Hannah Persson

  Robert Stewart and Hannah Persson

  Robert Stewart is a distinguished journalist and educator who served as Director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University from 2010 to 2020. He joined the faculty in 1987, bringing with him a doctorate and master’s degree in communication from the University of Washington, along with a bachelor’s degree from Hunter College.

  Stewart’s research and teaching centered on media reform, broadcast journalism, international communication, and media history. He published widely in leading journals such as Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly and co-authored the book CNN: Making News in the Global Market with Don Flournoy.

  A strong advocate for international education, Stewart taught journalism at Leipzig University in Germany in 1993 and coordinated a lasting partnership between Ohio University and Leipzig. He also led programs that provided students with global experiences, including study trips to Cambodia.

  During his decade as director, Stewart navigated challenges such as declining enrollment and increased competition from other journalism programs. He responded by actively engaging in recruitment efforts, often visiting high schools to promote both the journalism school and Ohio University as a whole.

  This interview was recorded as part of a class project for Recording Memory: Methods and uses of Oral History, Spring 2025, Alexander G. Lovelace (Ph.D.) Instructor

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  Oral History of Dr. Richard Vedder Conducted on February 21st 2025 By Gavin Combs

  Richard Vedder and Gavin Combs

  Dr. Richard Vedder discusses his history and his professorship at Ohio University, where he is a Distinguished Professor of Economics Emeritus with a scholarly focus on Economic History, Macroeconomics, and the Economics of Education. He is the Founding Director of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity located in Washington D.C. He also serves as an Adjunct Scholar for the American Enterprise Institute. He has also advised the U.S. Congress Joint Economics Committee as an economist and testified before them. He was also a fellow of the George W. Bush Institute.

  This interview was conducted as part of a class project for Recording Memory: Methods and Uses of Oral History, Spring 2025, Alexander G. Lovelace (Ph.D.) Instructor

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  Oral History of Peggy Viehweger, former Chair of the Ohio University Board of Trustees Conducted on April 18, 2025 By Hannah Persson

  Peggy Viehweger and Hannah Persson

  Peggy Viehweger is a distinguished leader in higher education and former chair of the Ohio University Board of Trustees, as well as the CEO of Supresta. During her tenure as chair, she played a key role in guiding the university’s governance and strategic direction. One of her most significant contributions was overseeing the search and appointment of Ohio University’s 23rd president, Dr. Lori Stewart Gonzalez, a process that involved evaluating more than 100 candidates. Known for her ability to navigate complex issues and foster strong relationships with stakeholders, Viehweger has been an invaluable asset to the university.

  This interview was recorded as part of a class project for Recording Memory: Methods and uses of Oral History, Spring 2025, Alexander G. Lovelace (Ph.D.) Instructor

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  Oral history of Dr. Mark Weinberg Conducted on March 31st and April 11th 2025 By Gavin Combs

  Mark Weinberg and Gavin Combs

  Dr. Mark L. Weinberg is a long-time Ohio University professor whose career spanned over 45 years in public service, leadership education, and rural economic development. As founding dean of the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, he launched numerous statewide initiatives, co-founded multiple economic and leadership programs, and shaped Ohio University into a leading center for public affairs innovation.

  This interview was conducted as part of a class project for Recording Memory: Methods and Uses of Oral History, Spring 2025, Alexander G. Lovelace (Ph.D.) Instructor.