Aimen Vanood, Pi Sigma Alpha, Gavit
January 25, 2021
Colleagues,
The renowned Canadian philosopher and media theorist Marshall McLuhan once said, “Once you see the boundaries of your environment, they are no longer the boundaries of your environment.”
In terms of the student population we serve, Oakland University is considered by some to be a regional university. But this assessment, founded on a perception of geographic boundaries, is neither an accurate nor a fair assessment.
The following highlights focusing on Oakland University students and the faculty members who have supported their outstanding success serve as compelling evidence that we are a national university generating new knowledge, insight and innovation worthy of boundless recognition.
Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, M.D.
President
PARSING THE PANDEMIC
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine student Aimen Vanood was recently selected from a field of 1,000 students across the country to join just four others in presenting research at the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Research Symposium in December.
Submitted as part of the AMA Research Challenge, Aimen’s work investigated potential neurological complications from the COVID-19 virus. It was honored for demonstrating remarkably innovative thinking needed to drive the field of medicine forward.
Also as part of the inaugural AMA Research Challenge, Aimen earned an opportunity to present her work to a panel of medical experts by way of a YouTube premiere event earlier this month. Compliments and congratulations of the highest order to Aimen for this outstanding achievement!
PREEMINANT IN POLITICS
Any time that a student-run organization is recognized on a national level marks a profoundly proud moment for the institution that hosts it. With this in mind, words fall short of describing just how remarkable it is that Oakland University’s Nu Omega Chapter of the Pi Sigma Alpha national political honor society has won that organization’s Best Chapter Award for seven years running.
This honor recognizes chapters that are driven in promoting the field of political science and highly active in their universities and communities. During the 2019-2020 year, the Nu Omega chapter welcomed one of the largest induction classes since its founding and sponsored more than 20 events, many of which were open to the community.
These students and the political science faculty members who support them are a shining example of the great heights we can achieve with passion, dedication and hard work. Kudos to all!
NEW PATHS IN PARTNERING
Shreyas Gavit, who holds an OU mechanical engineering degree and recently completed an MBA through the School of Business Administration, is part of three-member student team that recently won the Salesforce Career Journey with Deloitte.
This national case study competition drew more than 1,100 student competitors from 300 U.S. Colleges and universities into a challenge that tasked them with helping a fictional online retailer meet recruiting and hiring challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. Shreyas’ team emerged victorious after creating a recruiting app that incorporated innovative recruiter and candidate user features not yet seen in the market.
Shreyas said he credits much of his success to supportive faculty members both in the SBA and the School of Engineering and Computer Science. Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing such high acclaim to a distinguished alumnus, to two OU schools and the university as a whole!