The John Glenn Institute announced the winners for its second new category of John Glenn Scholars.
This is the first academic year for the institute recognizing scholars. The second new category of scholars is the John Glenn Social Capital Scholars, which were given to David Landsbergen, associate professor of public policy and management at OSU, and Angela Stuber, the executive director of the Ohio Community Computing Network.
“This was the first time the institute is recognizing individuals and it is an exciting step for the institution,” said Deborah Merritt, executive director of the John Glenn Institute.
The scholarship will total $25,000, which can be used on the recipient’s social capital project.
“Coming from the John Glenn Institute, it’s certainly an honor,” Landsbergen said. “Considering the number of people who submitted proposals, and the quality of the faculty that were selected, I’m in pretty good company.”
The institute received 55 applications from 26 different OSU academic departments for the first category of scholars – the John Glenn Scholars in Public Policy Research.
“That demonstrated the excellence in breadth and policy research here at OSU,” said Deanna Stewart, development director for the John Glenn Institute.
Stuber was happy to receive an honor from a university’s organization while she has not been recognized by a university since she went to graduate school at the University of Toledo.
“It is very exciting because it’s not my world,” Stuber said. “I use to be in an academic world. Now I’m in a non-profit world that is non-academic.”
Landsbergen and Stuber will be performing social capital which is creating a culture through networks, community bonds and trust.
“The institute has been interested in the idea of social capital because it makes civic engagement, economic development and other essential activities possible,” Merritt said.
The social capital project is aimed to narrow the gap of digital divide within the community.
Digital divide is the separation of the people who do not have enough money to purchase computers and the people who have access to this electronic communication and information technology which is increasing in numbers.
Landsbergen and Stuber’s 15-month social capital project will bring together small organizations to supply them with time and resources to create communication technology centers in schools, libraries and community computing centers for the less fortunate to utilize.
Stuber said she wants to find out through their research why cities in Ohio, like Cleveland and Toledo, have advanced communication technology centers and Cincinnati and Columbus do not.
Papers will be written on their research and will be published in academic journals, but Landsbergen said this is not the only form of communication to promote their research. He said through the institute the research can be communicated outside of the university.
Landsbergen said he looks forward to doing this project.
“I think this kind of research will be important for universities in the future,” Landsbergen said. “I’m also doing it because I have to give back to the community.”
The deadline to submit applications for the John Glenn Scholars in Service-Learning, the third category of John Glenn Scholars is March 12.
“We’re honored to have the scholars who are noteworthy in their field,” Stewart said. “Their research will be impactful and will help to improve the environment and area in which we all live.”
