College of Arts and Sciences graduates reflect on finding their way home to OHIO

The impact of Ohio University’s College of Arts and Sciences is felt far and wide with nearly 1,500 new alumni every year.

During the fall semester, that impact was felt strongly in Cleveland, where Dean Matt Ando hosted the “Advancing Networks and Developing Opportunities (ANDO)” networking dinner and panel discussion at Collision Bend Brewing Company.

Alumnus Ron Teplitzky (AB ’84) moderated the panel, which highlighted three notable graduates. The three panelists, Jasmine Butler, Michael Moehring and Michael Wells shared from the heart about how their Arts and Sciences education at OHIO paved the way to a bright future—and how they stay connected to their Bobcat community.

Arts and Sciences Alumni Spotlight: Michael Moehring, BS ’10, MS ’20

From a young age, Michael Moehring was always transfixed by his father’s OHIO class ring—and he always knew it would only be a matter of time before he got one of his own.

“Being around all of the OU hoodies and sweatshirts made me feel like a Bobcat from a young age, and when I learned that OU had one of the oldest forensic chemistry programs in the country, I knew it would be an excellent fit,” says Moehring.

Moehring has put his multiple chemistry degrees to good use, starting his career as an associate chemist with BASF before becoming a research scientist for Gotion Inc. (a power battery technology company specializing in electric vehicles). As he continues to advance in his career, he pays it forward as a founding member of OHIO’s Chemistry and Biochemistry Alumni Advisory Board—often returning to campus to attend events and offer mentoring and resume reviews for current students.

“Our board is comprised of members who have chemistry degrees in drastically different fields from pharmaceuticals to governmental work to toxicology,” shares Moehring. “Because we represent a huge range of different backgrounds, we’re able to show students what’s possible with a chemistry degree, and I find that really fun and fulfilling.”

Arts and Sciences Alumni Spotlight: Jasmine Butler, BA ’11

Many Bobcats can pinpoint the exact moment they fell in love with the Ohio University campus, and Jasmine Butler is no exception. For Butler, it was the stacks of Alden Library that were calling her name when she decided to transfer from Ursuline College as a sophomore.

“Two of my best friends from high school were already down at OU and my mom is also a graduate,” shares Butler. “When I visited the library, it was so peaceful, and I thought, ‘If I’m going to be away from family [at school], this is a place where I feel safe. It just felt right.”

While earning her degree in criminology and sociology, Butler got involved in numerous activities on campus—including Black Student Cultural Programming Board, Faces Modeling Club, Divine Covering (a faith-based organization) and the Miss Bronze pageant. She credits those experiences with helping position her for the important work she does now as district director for Congresswoman Shontel Brown, who represents Ohio’s 11th District.

“These opportunities helped me learn how to take risks and step out in front of people for public speaking and interviews,” says Butler.

Though Butler’s role in government keeps her incredibly busy, she maintains her commitment to staying engaged with OHIO. She is active in Cleveland’s Ebony Bobcat Network and serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service. Butler was also part of the 2024-2025 cohort of OHIO’s Young Alumni Leaders Program designed to empower and engage recent graduates.

For Butler, all of these experiences have culminated in finding her voice and using it to make an impact.

“My parents raised us to volunteer and to be servant leaders, but I didn’t always know what that looked like,” says Butler. “I’m fortunate to have fallen into a space where I’m able to do that as a career.”

Arts and Sciences Alumni Spotlight: Michael Wells, BS ’88, DO ’93

As a devoted alumnus, Mike Wells often jokes that he suffers from “refractory Bobcat-opathy.” The joke is part doctor humor, as Wells is a board-certified internal medicine physician with the Northeast Ohio-based Pioneer Physicians Network. But it’s also highly reflective of his deep ties to OHIO—and the strong friendships he made there.

As proud members of Delta Upsilon, Wells and his fraternity brothers wanted to pay meaningful tribute to those unbreakable bonds after their brother Gary Nakamoto, BGS ’88, passed away in 2021. They enlisted renowned sculptor Alan Cottrill to honor his memory, ultimately installing three bronze “Bobcat Benches” at the base of Baker Center.

“Before Gary passed, I was probably an ‘average’ alumni. If I got a phone call, I would donate, but I was busy growing a practice, raising a family and getting involved in my community,” says Wells. “But Gary’s death shocked me into the realization that Ohio University matters to me in so many ways.”

Since then, Wells has doubled down on his involvement with the University—joining the Ohio University Alumni Association Board of Directors and continuing to find new ways to give back through meaningful art. Currently, Wells is helping with fundraising efforts to make it possible for Cottrill to create a sculpture of Manasseh Cutler that will live next to Cutler Hall.

Looking back, Wells is grateful for the experiences he’s had as a student, alumnus and father of two OHIO graduates, but he largely credits Delta Upsilon with providing the connective tissue.

“The rigors of OHIO’s academic programs speak for themselves, but one of the things that always made an impression on me was that the university encourages each student from the first week forward to join a club or activity on campus,” says Wells. “Getting involved makes a huge difference in the college experience, and I encourage current students to take advantage of everything OHIO has to offer.”

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