Student Success Champion: Gisell Jeter-Bennett
Gisell Jeter-Bennett has become an indispensable architect of student success in one of Ohio State’s most rigorous STEM colleges.
Gisell Jeter-Bennett has become an indispensable architect of student success in one of Ohio State’s most rigorous STEM colleges.
The Student Success Research Lab has awarded five recipients for the 2026 Student Academic Success Research (SASR) Grants. Winning proposals received top marks for methodological quality and practical importance from a panel representing multiple colleges, units, and campuses across the university, with a focus on ensuring that each funded project has clear and practical implications for the design, implementation, engagement, or scale-up of practices to improve Ohio State student success.
Carolyn Johns sees the MSLC as not only a student support unit, but also a living laboratory for mathematics education.
Dr. Shanna Jaggars reports directly to Dr. Trevor Brown. Analysts Brianne Herrera and Nathan Johnson join office of Institutional Research and Planning.
The Student Success Research Lab is pleased to announce four new grantees under the Student Academic Success Research (SASR) Grants program. Winning proposals received top marks for methodological quality and practical importance from a panel representing multiple colleges, units, and campuses across the university, with a focus on ensuring that each funded project has clear and practical implications for the design, implementation, engagement, or scale-up of practices to improve Ohio State student success. This year’s topics range from chemistry and STEM tutoring to transfer student pathways and agricultural education.
Donna Bobbitt-Zeher was the first in her family to complete college. Now as an associate professor and associate dean at the Marion campus of Ohio State, every year Donna helps ensure that hundreds of students are successful in navigating college for the first time.
Back in her days as an undergraduate Philosophy student at Ohio State, Julie Sanzone worked in her residence hall as a student advisor. She discovered a love of connecting with and providing individualized support to her fellow students, and became fascinated with the dynamics between a student’s academic journey and their time outside the classroom. Today, as the associate director of academic initiatives for Housing and Residence Education, she focuses on the nexus between academics and student life, and furthers student success by connecting those experiences together.
In 2024, the Student Success Research Lab launched its Student Success Champions series and featured eight champions: staff and faculty from across Ohio State units and campuses who exemplify dedication and passion for supporting student success.
On November 8, we honor “first-generation students” – that is, those whose parents have not completed a four-year degree. Donna Hight began as a first-generation student herself, and throughout her career she has supported and celebrated these students as they forge their way into the frontier of higher education.
For 28 years, Dr. Jonathan Baker has worked to improve students’ engagement and success in math: first through his own classroom, then through mentorship and development of other faculty, and today through the leadership of Ohio State’s new Amgen STEM Learning Center.