What's Happening at Ashland University

Analyses conducted by Ashland University Chemistry Professor Jeff Weidenhamer were cited in a New York Times article about the recall of 12 million Shrek-themed glasses by McDonald's on Friday. Dr. Weidenhamer was assisted by Ashland University senior Jennifer Miller, who is working with him this summer to characterize the hazards of inexpensive jewelry items containing high levels of cadmium. This research, which has prompted three recalls of jewelry for cadmium contamination, is supported by a grant from the Dr. Scholl Foundation.

Katherine Anne Moga, who graduated from Ashland University in May of 2010 with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry, has received a teaching assistantship in the Chemistry Department at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry, and hopes to teach at the college level when she completes her degree. Katie, who is from Stow, Ohio, was selected as the recipient of the Chemistry Department’s Senior American Chemical Society Award.

Ashland University Professor of Chemistry Dr. Jeff Weidenhamer was featured in a second Associated Press article regarding cadmium in children’s jewelry. The follow-up article was picked up by media across the country, including the New York Times, USA Today, Time Magazine and WEWS-TV 5 in Cleveland. Following the release of the article, Walmart announced it is pulling an entire line of Miley Cyrus-brand necklaces and bracelets from its shelves after tests performed by Weidenhamer for the Associated Press found the jewelry contained high levels of the toxic metal cadmium. 
 

ASHLAND, Ohio – The Ashland University Schar College of Education has been recognized as one of the elite teacher education schools in the country after receiving all positive marks following its continuing accreditation review by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the organization responsible for professional accreditation of teacher education.