MILESTONES

MILESTONES

honors

New coordinator

Youngstown State University’s Poetry Center and Etruscan Press has named Thomas G. Welsh, Ph.D., as the organization’s outreach coordinator.

In his new role, Welsh will focus on expanding outreach programs, serving as a resource to local educators, conducting publicity campaigns and developing curricula and support for outreach authors and their books. He will also work directly with the organization’s prison and educational programs to develop curricula and review and promote student success.

The Poetry Center and Etruscan’s outreach program is designed to bring authors and their books to underserved populations throughout the Mahoning Valley. Apart from its outreach programs in local schools, the organization facilitates English composition classes at local prisons, while constructing, installing and stocking Little Free Libraries in various parts of the city.

Welsh earned a doctorate in foundations of education from Kent State University in 2009 and a master’s degree in English from Youngstown State University in 1993.

He worked as a journalist and educator in South Korea and Cambodia between 1995 and 2000. His publications include “Closing Chapters” (Lexington Books, 2011), a revised dissertation that tracks the decline of Youngstown’s Catholic elementary schools. He is the co-author of three popular histories: Strouss’: Youngstown’s Dependable Store (History Press, 2012), Classic Restaurants of Youngstown (2014), and A Jewish History of Youngstown and the Steel Valley (2017).

Welsh will be assisted by interns Callie Haas and Erin R. Lawrence. Haas, an experienced educator, is pursuing a master’s degree in English at YSU through its professional writing and editing track. Lawrence, who teaches English at Kent State University, is pursuing a master of fine arts degree through the NEOMFA Creative Writing Program.

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